Review of Don't Breathe (2016) by Kevin P — 19 Dec 2017

Strengths: Fede Alvarez only directed two feature films, but both were among my favorite horror movies in recent memory. Evil Dead was delightfully gory, though this was a different animal. There was barely any gore and it focused more on the tense moments, tone and build that make horror films work so well. The suspense element is great and at just 88 minutes, it never overstays its welcome. Jane Levy (Rocky) and Dylan Minnette (Alex) were strong choices for leads. They also worked well as sympathetic heroes, despite the act of robbing someone. You understand that Rocky's doing it to set up a better life for her and her sister, so you feel for her. The movie also does a great job continuing to build to higher stakes. I thought the protagonist was free on several occasions, but things kept getting amped up. I'm also glad they made sure to find a way to make Norman (Stephen Lang) into a detestable antagonist. Coming in, I was worried we might not dislike him too much since he was the one getting robbed. I won't spoil what's in his basement that makes this so, but it worked.

Weaknesses: It's an odd thing to complain about, but I thought the film was too dark. Literally. I understand the lighting adding to the feel, but it was done to the point where it was hard to see what was happening at certain points. The premise is one thing I understand people having issues with. While I thought they made it work, I see why some just can't buy the concept of a blind man being that much of a threat. I also wasn't a huge fan of the ending leaving things open for a sequel.

Overall: Fede Alvarez is two for two in impressive horror films. While this wasn't your typical creepy horror, it had me on the edge of my seat. It's one of the better home invasion films I can recall, with tons of tense moments. A simple idea that turned into a great movie thanks to the acting and direction.