It’s very exciting to see a movie with a simple plot that works
amazingly well because it executes its premise so well, extracting every bit of
possibility from the story. “Don’t Breathe” is a great example of such a movie.
Everything works here to ensure that you’re literally holding your breath for
the most part of the movie.
Three thieves decide to rob an old, blind war veteran living
alone in a remote part of town. But it doesn’t turn out to be the walk in
the park they expected, as the old man is dangerous and quickly turns the
tables on the intruders. What follows is a tense cat and mouse game which
refuses to let up. Nothing is what it seems, and there are enough twists and
turns here to keep you at the edge of your seat. To give away anything more
would be a crime.
The movie gets into the thick of things from the get-go, and
doesn’t let up for the entire duration. The screenplay does a good job of
building up tension and giving enough shocks and twists to keep the viewers
engaged. Despite not spending much time on character development, each
character’s personalities and motivations come through as the events unfold.
The major strength of the movie is how it shocks the viewer
into paying attention, and quickly gets them invested in the movie’s
proceedings. The fact that it doesn’t let up and continues to build tension for
pretty much the entire movie (maybe just a little bit towards the end, but I’m
nitpicking here) is another key USP. It’s refreshing to see a good suspenseful
movie that doesn’t have to rely to gimmicks to make things work, but instead
makes simplicity its most potent weapon.
Fede Alvarez is definitely announcing himself as a very
capable horror/thriller writer and director. Backed by some able performances
and a good crew, he delivers a winner here. Definitely one of the picks for
this year – don’t miss it.
