"Don't Breathe" is Classic Horror Fun

Don't Breathe (2016)

It's rare for psychological horror to be pulled off in a manner which leaves audience members on the edge of their seat from start to finish, but Don't Breathe is a diamond in the rough that is the horror genre. As the title implies, the audience is left little to no room to catch their breath as the film throws its three protagonists into darker and darker situations as it progresses. The plot is simple; three young people in desperate need of money decide to rob an elderly man after hearing of his secret wealth, only to find themselves in a bigger mess than anyone might have anticipated.

Many aspects of Don't Breathe echo elements of classic slashers and thrillers from the late seventies and early eighties, but the more outdated tropes are updated in a way that makes the film feel haunting and realistic. The antagonist who torments our heroes (if "hero" is a word you would apply to the three protagonists, given the fact that they're robbing a blind man) is depicted as somewhere between man and beast in the way he wails in torment and grunts out his dialogue in a deep whisper. The minor elements of Don't Breathe are all what mingle to form an extremely effective and frightening rollercoaster ride of a film.

From the start, Don't Breathe succeeds in setting its atmosphere with a dark pulsing industrial soundtrack which uses simplicity to its advantage (much like what the film does with its own plot and setting, both being extremely simple in their own right). Odd camera angles are scattered about, creating a feeling of disorientation which is amplified when steady shots are intermingled with the bizarre tilted angles as the camera pans over corners or backs away from the film's antagonist. The steady shots are zoomed out of cautiously, creating the illusion of endless hallways or doors that are always just barely out of reach.

While the film does have some particularly shocking sequences (which is to be expected in any film of the psychological horror genre, especially one with a plot as simple as this), these shocking moments are not used to make up for a lack of quality in the film. Instead, these instances of absolute terror and confusion aid the film in its own disorienting nature, as they leave the audience watching in horror while being dragged throughout the suffering of three people who come to realize that they have all made horrible mistakes in thinking that robbing a blind man would be a simple task to get away with.

Perhaps my one complaint regarding Don't Breathe is the dehumanization of the blind man. While he does speak and is humanized as the film continues, he is regarded too much like an animal with the way that he sniffs the air and growls like a beast hunting for prey. This flaw aside, the film is otherwise fantastic, especially when taking into consideration the fact that it's impossible to sit back and relax while watching it. Even if it's not a particularly frightening film, and once the credits roll you probably won't find yourself nervously glancing over your shoulder to ensure that you're not being followed by an angry muscular blind man, it's still an enjoyable movie experience with plenty of moments that are sure to stick with you for a long while.