Film Review – Don’t Breathe

There’s nothing a man cannot do, once he accepts the fact that there is no God’ — so goes the tagline of the film. Stephen Lang plays a blind Iraqi-war veteran living alone with his ferocious dog in an abandoned neighbourhood in Detroit. Three youths Rocky (Jane Levy), her boyfriend Money (Daniel Zovatto) and their friend Alex (Dylan Minette) — who secretly harbours intentions for Rocky — have made it a part-time and lucrative business breaking into homes. They learn that the war veteran has recently been awarded a huge sum of money as settlement for his daughter’s death in a car accident. But what they’ve bargained for is not what they get.
Uruguay-born director Alvarez has helmed a wonderfully written screenplay, aided by some credible performances, especially Stephen Lang, one-time director of the Actors’ Studio.

There are some astonishing sequences, notable one being when the Blind Man turns off the light switches, nullifying whatever advantage the would-be robbers may have had. When the film begins, the viewer’s sympathy is all for the visually handicapped war veteran. But as events unfold, the balance of sympathy shifts. Alvarez succeeds in keeping the viewer engrossed — with the plot, with the characters. The film is more of a thriller than horror.

Don’t Breathe is an uncompromising, noteworthy film of the suspense horror genre with some remarkable performances. It’s only on close scrutiny that one finds some technical deficiencies. But with a taut script, slick editing, decent cinematography and a few genuine jumpscares, there indeed won’t be time to breathe!