Don't Breathe (2016)

Dir: Fede Alvarez

Short review: if you haven't seen DON'T BREATHE yet, go see it now. It's that good.

Director Fede Alvarez's first feature film was the unnecessary remake of the classic EVIL DEAD. Like many, I was irritated that the remake was being made. More often than not remakes of classic and minor classic films are a cash grab. Despite being burned numerous times in the past, and I'm certain that I'll be scorched, scalded and singed in the future, I took a chance on Alvarez's vision of deadites and the Necronomicon. It paid off. As I said, EVIL DEAD in an unnecessary remake but it was damn entertaining.

Alvarez's second feature, also a low budget horror film, is DON'T BREATHE. Set in the urban decay of Detroit, three young people turn to petty crime like burglary in the hopes of escaping the city's blight. Rocky (Jane Levy from the EVIL DEAD remake) dreams of heading to California and leaving behind her dysfunctional mother. Money (Daniel Zovatto IT FOLLOWS) is her boyfriend and the only one of the three who seemingly is destined for a life of crime and punishment. Alex (Dylan Minnette LET ME IN), who pines for Rocky, leverages his father's job in home security to set up their break-ins. The return on their crimes is minimal so when they hear about a blind vet with a large sum of cash on hand they turn their sights on him.

The minimalist script by Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues is a fresh take on the home invasion sub-genre. Combined with Alvarez's assured direction and a group of actors who are capable of making characters who would be the bad guys in any other film likeable it makes for a tension filled thrill ride. It takes wit to pull off making the viewer care about young punks intent on stealing from a blind vet. Of course he fights back, it wouldn't be much of a film if he didn't. But then the film ramps up the pressure from there.

The only let down with the film is the improbable ending concocted to set up a sequel.

DON'T BREATHE is one of those films I can point to that isn't made with much money, is mostly set in one location (the blind man's house), features only a few characters and yet can blow away the viewer by being smart.

***1/2 out of ****