“There is nothing a man can’t do once he admits that God doesn’t exist.”
Fede Alvarez’s Don’t Breathe is a uniquely crafted thriller that relies heavily on sound (or the lack thereof). Following a trio of teenagers who break into a blind man’s home, assuming they’ll get away easy, the film chronicles a series of missteps that pit them toe to toe with a highly violent, semi-psychotic military vet who will stop at nothing to ensure that his secrets stay hidden.
Taking place, for the most part, within a single night, Don’t Breathe is a gut-wrenching film that utilizes the absence of noise to create a silent, albeit harrowing sense of fear. Forcing you to resort to your other senses, Alvarez focuses your attention on an unyielding night of horror as a blind man defends his money, and the secret he has lurking in the basement.
In reality only five actors ever grace the screen throughout the film’s eighty-eight minute runtime. Their collective chemistry is detrimental to the story’s overall success. With each pulling their weight within the confines of the story, Don’t Breathe earns high marks for the genre as it appears to effortlessly create tension thanks to keen writing by Alvarez.
The director holds nothing back as the group is subjected to unbelievable torments that will send a chill down your spine. Alvarez’s creative writing leaves nothing to chance as the teenagers find themselves trapped within the home, unable to escape or call for help as every move, to their victim, provides a clue to their location. His meticulous thought process brings an unusual sense of authenticity to the genre film, creating a smart (albeit simple) story to the screen that is a bit too real for comfort.
Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto and Stephen Lang all give exceptional performances, bringing Alvarez’s story to life with an unnerving sense of simplicity. The film’s pace is even, the timeline convincing - though it takes place within the borders of a few hours you never find yourself waiting for things to happen. The story stays moving forward, constantly putting one of its characters in peril as they attempt to escape the four walls they worked so hard to break into only minutes before.
As the film reaches the pinnacle of its third act you can’t help but appreciate its approach. While it does pull a few fast ones over its viewers, taking their perceived notions for granted, Don’t Breathe, for the most part, plays it straight up. Granted a few will be disappointed with the final scene, showing that the story isn’t in fact over, most will be impressed enough with the previous eighty-seven minutes to find the overall experience enjoyable. Not to mention, what’s a good scary movie without the threat of something lurking in the shadows.
*This title was originally announced for the festival as Untitled Fede Alvarez/Ghost House Thriller and was retitled just before its premiere.
*This review originally appeared as part of our coverage of the 2016 SXSW Film Festival
