Don't Breathe

A trio of young thieves – Rocky (Jane Levy), Alex and Money – who get their kicks by breaking into the houses of wealthy people hear about a blind veteran who won a major cash settlement after the death of his only child. They figure that he must be an easy target, and so the trio decide to invade the man’s secluded home in an abandoned neighbourhood. However, they find themselves trapped inside, and the young intruders must fight for their lives when they learn their victim is nowhere near as helpless as he seemed. In a nice twist on the typical home invasion thriller, the intruders here are the ones finding themselves in danger, and you root for them against their terrifying adversary. Director Fede Alvarez has a fantastic knack at generating tension, and it ramps up throughout the film, becoming almost unbearable at the end. When a thriller can have you on the edge of your seat as well as this one, you’re in for a gripping treat. The small cast and the cinematography amp up the claustrophobia, with both playing a particularly vital part due to the lack of dialogue (after all, you don’t talk much running from a blind man) – the movie is, then, a cinematic and especially visceral cat-and-mouth experience, with impressive physical performances by the cast. Don’t Breathe is simple, brutal and an intense viewing experience that is guaranteed to thrill you throughout.

Reece Goodall