Don't Breathe - A Movie Review

Don’t even breathe. The old man hears everything.

Don’t Breathe tiptoed into theaters in 2016. A trio of burglars devise to rob an old man’s house. Learning that this man is blind, this mission proves to be more difficult than they thought. In the fight for survival, escape is not easy.

I was afraid to make a noise while watching Don’t Breathe. It is a suspenseful film. Don’t Breathe defines horror. Testing audiences on whose side they’re on, the film makes you never want to go through with robbing a house.

Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, and Daniel Zovatto did a tremendous job. While Rocky is the only one of the trio that has depth, it worked for story purposes not to include backstories for the other members. I enjoyed the storyline Rocky had with her little sister.

It would have been unnecessary to add in a backstory for each character. It’s more about their performances than demonstrating a backstory. We don’t have to know everything. Plus, maybe it’s best that we don’t relate to them. The point of their characters is to teach audiences a lesson about stealing.

Levy’s terrified expressions were excellent. I felt the horror. For a story like this, the trio did a terrific job working off one another. You could feel the terror of the situation. Don’t Breathe is a lesson to never rob a house. You never know what is on the inside.

For his performance, Stephen Lang wore contact lenses that restricted his vision. It got him into the mindset of his character. Lang did an outstanding job. Never underestimate anybody, no matter the disability.

The old man is intimidating. He is offputting, but only as a form of defense for himself. Sensing the intruders in his home, the old man does not let them get away with theft. Feeling for vibrations, he puts his ears to good use.

At first, I was unsure of whose side I was on. I know a lot of people must have varying opinions about the film’s twist. I’m still wondering why it was included. After seeing what the old man’s true intentions are, it ruined his character for me. I was rooting for him to win against the burglars. In some ways, this twist goes along with the history of his character arc, but it didn’t have the right atmosphere for the film.

Fede Alverez dove into the suspenseful angle of Don’t Breathe. His camera work was impressive. Following a close perspective of the characters, sound editing was another highlight. Cutting to complete silence, his direction was highly achieved as characters fought to keep from making the slightest noise.

Take caution when watching this film. Other than trespassing and burglary, Don’t Breathe deals with a serious storyline detailing sexual assault. It made me uncomfortable. Be warned about an object that will make your stomach squirm.

This is where the film fell out of place. It was doing just fine with the home invasion angle. With the runtime, I think Alverez struggled with what else to include. There’s this long sequence that copies a famous scary scene from the film Cujo. While it kept tensions high, it could have been shorter.

Don’t Breathe is all about the tension. It will wrack your nerves. The film kept me hooked with how well the camera panned the entire house, searching every corner. Sometimes it felt like the old man sensed the audience, staring right into your eyes.

Fans of the horror genre will enjoy Don’t Breathe. It’s a suspenseful and eerie watch. I’m curious to see how Don’t Breathe 2 continues the story.