Remember the fourth installment of Evil Dead? The first one in the franchise not to be directed by Sam Raimi? Well, it was directed by a one Mr.Fede Alvarez, the same ‘twisted’ brain behind Don’t Breathe (Well, the movie’s poster calls him exactly that) . The film has Avatar star Stephen Lang in a pivotal role along with Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette and Daniel Zovatto in lead roles. Co-written by Rodo Sayagues, the film’s cinematography has been handled by Pedro Luque.
 

What is it about?
Well, somehow Don’t Breathe got associated with being a ghost horror prior to release here in India, but it isn’t. It’s something better. The plot doesn’t deal with anything supernatural or surreal but simply sizzles with sharp needle plot points that are sober and sensible. There are three characters in the film Rocky (Jane Levy) , Alex (Dylan) and Money (Daniel) who are makeshift thugs pulling off safe robberies to survive. Stephen Lang plays the role of an old, blind, war veteran who lives alone and has just received a lump sum compensation for the death of his daughter after an accident. So it’s the three against one and if you could put two and two together you would still not be able to figure out how twisted the plot is! But that is pretty much the premise of the story.
 

What makes up the movie:

It’s the motive of the characters Rocky, who terribly yearns an escape from the life in her household, that of Alex who has a soft corner for her and Money, who wishes to have a lot of what he’s named after, pitted against the terrorising but blind war veteran that forms the logic behind what's happening. But then what could prepare you for what’s happening? The film is filled with scares that have only one motive which can be aptly described as trying to put a razor to your nerve ends. It’s a cat and mouse (and a dog) chase inside a house that is gruellingly suspense filled, it makes you smile with amusement if you’re a fellow for such thrillers.
 

What doesn’t work?
Oh yes it’s an ‘A’ rated film, though it doesn’t have any sexual content, or profane language, you pretty much shouldn’t even be reading this review if you’re underage for such is the violence in the film. It’s not something like it’s Saw or Wrong Turn counterparts, but it’s somewhat disturbing and definitely not for the peace lovers.
 

What works?

The movie stays true it’s genre and it’s title. And that pretty much means everything else worked well. Special credits to the writers, the cast, and the camera work in that order for making it so. Lang’s performance as the old man is definitely going down as one of his best yet. There is a particular scene which showcases total darkness that has been handled extremely well to an extent that it portrayed the amount of thinking that went into the film.
 

Well?
Don’t Breathe is such a film that will leave you panting after the end, heaving a sigh of relief after 91 minutes of absolute craft and carnage focused on stimulating your pulses. A definite watch for the extreme adrenaline junkie.