Don't Breathe

Fede Alvarez, director of big horror flick Evil Dead, released his new twisted scary movie, Don't Breathe, three weeks ago bringing in 19.6 million dollars its first weekend. The movie got a score of 87% on rotten tomatoes, having so many positive reviews.


The movie was rated R (for terror, violence, disturbing content, and language including sexual references.) It was directed by Fede Alvarez, who is known for horror films. Rocky, the female protagonist, is played by Jane Levy who is known for her roll in Evil Dead. Alex, Rocky's love interest, is played by Dylan Minnette. Minnette played roles in a few family friendly movies as long as parts in more serious/scary movies such as Prisoners and Let Me In. Money is played by Daniel Zovatto, who has had other roles in low-budget scary movies. Fede Alvarez's Evil Dead has a 61% on Rotten Tomatoes and his other movies have lower scores than that. Don't Breathe is his "big movie" that brought in a lot of money and has good reviews. 


The movie starts with three troubled teens: Rocky, Alex, and Money, in Detroit who survive off the things they get from breaking into people's houses. Money, the oldest of the group, hears word of a blind veteran with $300,000 sitting in his home. The Blind Man's (who is never named) residence is secured by Money's dad's company's security system, helping them break in. Once in the house, the kids look around for the money, coming to the conclusion that it must be behind a locked door. Money shoots the lock, waking The Blind Man, who ends up shooting and killing Money with his own gun. Rocky and Alex make sure to be silent, so the man won't know that they are even there. Rocky hides in a closet and sees the Blind Man open and check a safe with the money in it.

Money (far left), Rocky (middle), and Alex (far right) finding the locked door with the money behind it.




The film quickly turns into a cat and mouse game of terror with an unsettling backstory. With a series of twists, turns, and disturbing images, this checks out to be a "not-so-typical home invasion movie" according to a top critic on Rotten Tomatoes. Every "pop-out" scare is genuine and every warped piece of dialogue makes the audience skin crawl.

The "chase-and-catch" feel of this movie reminds me of Panic Room with Jodie Foster. Both movies involve a bad guy trying to "get" the main people. Don't Breathe is different though, because there is more violence and a more eerie vibe to it. I liked this aspect to the movie, because I was thrown off when the villain told his backstory. 

I would give the movie an 8/10. The scares were totally genuine and it had just the right amount of twists and turns to keep me interested the entire time. Overall, the movie is a must see.  

Lainey Sulivan-Senior