“Don’t Breathe” may sound like instructions for leaving the house during the current Covid-19 pandemic, but in this instance it’s a unique horror/thriller film from the creative mind behind “Evil Dead,” Fede Alvarez. This movie from 2016 has an amazing story that closely resembles both a classic from the past (“Wait Until Dark,”) and a classic from the present (“A Quiet Place”.)
I love the plot. It’s original, and a perfect concept for realistic terror. Three hoodlums burglarize the house of an older man in effort to pillage a large stash of cash he is rumored to possess. Thinking the job will be simple due to the circumstances – despite being a war veteran the man is blind – the trio aren’t expecting him to be quite so unstable.
The cast makes the movie really work well. Leading the hoods is the adorable Jane Levy as Rocky. Levy also starred in “Evil Dead.” This was my first time witnessing her on screen and she gives an amazing performance. With limited dialogue, she can perfectly project her emotions through her eyes and facial expressions, great for any horror movie and in particular one like this where silence is a requirement for survival.
Stephen Lang plays the blind man, and is the catalyst for the entire movie. He’s tough as nails in a thoroughly plausible way. His strength matches his body, and his wit and cunning are appropriate given his status as a reclusive war veteran. He resides alone in the dark, with his still functioning senses heightened, accompanied only by his terrifying Rottweiler, and has deeper motives for his maverick behavior. One great scene displays him slamming his head against a wall in frustration, revealing to Rocky, and the viewer, just how off he really is.
Partnering with Rocky is Alex (Dylan Minnette) who excelled in the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.” Minnette has the perfect look of a timid wallflower. He’s the most sensible of the criminals and of course, has deep feelings for Rocky. Daniel Zovatto rounds out the thieves in a tertiary role.
“Don’t Breathe” is set in the urban wasteland of Detroit, and the house where the majority of the action takes place is just a simple and normal abode. It’s designed for a blind man, with hanging bells and no need for bright lights. Most of the story is set within the shadows of the home, and it’s a perfect locale for thrills. It sits in the midst of a ghost town section of Detroit – where there are no patrolling cops and no nosy neighbors.
I love the way Fede Alvarez tells the story. It’s as simple as a home invasion at night with a blind man as the lone occupant. There aren’t cheap jump scares or gratuitous blood and violence. The tension is set with the premise alone; be quiet and he can’t find you. Light and dark mean nothing. Keys and locks mean everything. You can’t watch without a pit of anxiety and a shot of adrenaline pulsing through your body.
While excellent for the most part, “Don’t Breathe” isn’t devoid of criticism. Not to spoil anything, but I didn’t like the insertion of a character about halfway through which is done to alleviate the rooting interests, and the ending is one that makes an “A” type thrilling and exhilarating experience close out as a “B” type movie. It remains within the confines of plausibility but becomes very horror cliché towards the end.
Despite that, it’s one of the most thrilling movies you’ll watch, and for 75% of it it’s an excellent flick. Please do what I did and watch with lights off.
