I literally saw this film a month ago :-/ I'm such a slacker!!!
Anywayyyy
'Don't Breathe' is a 2016 horror/crime thriller involving three friends who break into a blind mans house with every intention of robbing him - this turns out to be a HUGE mistake.
Whats unfolds is a twisting, turning, creepy as fuck story, with plenty of the obligatory jump scares we have all come to love or loathe.
I actually really enjoyed this film, I thought it was inventive, well shot, well acted, and well written. There wasn't one thing I could say was wrong with it, in my opinion - which is rare.
I'm not saying it was some epic Oscar winning masterpiece but its a job well done, by all involved.
At times, it felt like one giant homage to some of my favourite horror films, old and new, it had a very Wes Craven feel to it (without the tinge of comic absurdity that he seemed to favour - my he rest in peace, the wonderful sicko)
I found myself thinking of 'The People Under the Stairs' mostly - so many similarities, especially the dog - same breed, same function, same goal (to eat the intruder) also there was a bit of 'It Follows' in the exterior scenery, all run down houses and semi abandoned neighbourhoods - they are both set in Detroit so this is no coincidence I'm sure.
I didn't actually find the similarities off putting, like I would usually, as I don't like copy cats, its lazy - if I did like copy cats, I would have written multiple films by now, but as I don't have an original idea in my head, I haven't explored that avenue through fear of unintentional plagiarism ha ha.
Certain things stood out for me from the very beginning, it had Fede Alvarez written all over it for a start, this was only his second feature film as director and he is developing a signature style already, the sequence after they first enter the house is one long roller-coaster-esque tracking shot - like a cross between that gorgeous stealthy home invasion scene in 'This Means War' and the migraine inducing camera movements of the opening credits to 'Irreversible' obviously without Chris Pine and Tom Hardy or the sense of impending doom from that sick bastard Gaspar Noe.
The main cast were all formidable - no one made me wince at all, in fact it took me nearly the whole film to realise who the female lead was - Jane Levy actually plays Mia in the 'Evil Dead' remake, which we absolutely love and cherish in my house and watch regularly. I'm not sure if that's a result of my stupidity or her obviously versatile acting skills within the same genre, although its more than likely because she is covered in blood or rotting flesh 99% of the time in Evil Dead.
Dylan Minnette was sturdy and convincing as the male lead - he's not remarkable by any means but he does what he's meant to do and does it well - I love him in 'Labor Day' that films makes me ache.
I obviously won't reveal too much about the story, but from the trailer you can sort of tell that the blind guy really isn't one to be messed with and that these idiots will regret that decision for the rest of their lives - however long or short they may be. I have to say that for just a plain old white man in a vest and not some scary monster he really, really freaked me out. He's like a cross between Mick Taylor and John Wayne Gacy - the former being the fucking lunatic from Wolf Creek the latter being the real life pervert psycho, who used to keep the dead bodies of boys in his crawl space. In short - he's a psycho, played very well indeed by Stephen Lang (Avatar - also a bit of a psycho in that to be fair).
I have to give props to Mr Alvarez (who also wrote it) for a certain sequence involving a certain bodily fluid, containing a hair, in a very close up shot, that actually made me gag. Now, I have seen the sickest shit there is to see when it comes to films and I have never once actually physically had to hold my food down - well done to you, Fede.
Apart from the fact that I was nearly sick, the originality of this twist in the story is quite remarkable - I'm sure its been seen on film before but I cant think of any instances off the top of my head. The fact that you think its going to down the inevitable route and then it just doesn't, really gives you a jolt I think - mildly tinged with relief to be honest. What I am rambling about will all become clear when you watch it. Its genius.
Speaking of twists, I do actually have something to complain about - not because its bad film making, but because it was fucking exhausting! Just when you think the big twist has happened and you're about to get your resolution, you get repeatedly smacked in the face by 3 or 4 more! They were welcome twists for sure, I'm not talking about dragging the ending out until one of us dies like 'Pearl Harbor' these twist made the film even better each time.
The whole film was a mixture of the unexpected, unbelievable, slightly predictable and a little far fetched - just as horror should be.
Anywayyyy
'Don't Breathe' is a 2016 horror/crime thriller involving three friends who break into a blind mans house with every intention of robbing him - this turns out to be a HUGE mistake.
Whats unfolds is a twisting, turning, creepy as fuck story, with plenty of the obligatory jump scares we have all come to love or loathe.
I actually really enjoyed this film, I thought it was inventive, well shot, well acted, and well written. There wasn't one thing I could say was wrong with it, in my opinion - which is rare.
I'm not saying it was some epic Oscar winning masterpiece but its a job well done, by all involved.
At times, it felt like one giant homage to some of my favourite horror films, old and new, it had a very Wes Craven feel to it (without the tinge of comic absurdity that he seemed to favour - my he rest in peace, the wonderful sicko)
I found myself thinking of 'The People Under the Stairs' mostly - so many similarities, especially the dog - same breed, same function, same goal (to eat the intruder) also there was a bit of 'It Follows' in the exterior scenery, all run down houses and semi abandoned neighbourhoods - they are both set in Detroit so this is no coincidence I'm sure.
I didn't actually find the similarities off putting, like I would usually, as I don't like copy cats, its lazy - if I did like copy cats, I would have written multiple films by now, but as I don't have an original idea in my head, I haven't explored that avenue through fear of unintentional plagiarism ha ha.
Certain things stood out for me from the very beginning, it had Fede Alvarez written all over it for a start, this was only his second feature film as director and he is developing a signature style already, the sequence after they first enter the house is one long roller-coaster-esque tracking shot - like a cross between that gorgeous stealthy home invasion scene in 'This Means War' and the migraine inducing camera movements of the opening credits to 'Irreversible' obviously without Chris Pine and Tom Hardy or the sense of impending doom from that sick bastard Gaspar Noe.
The main cast were all formidable - no one made me wince at all, in fact it took me nearly the whole film to realise who the female lead was - Jane Levy actually plays Mia in the 'Evil Dead' remake, which we absolutely love and cherish in my house and watch regularly. I'm not sure if that's a result of my stupidity or her obviously versatile acting skills within the same genre, although its more than likely because she is covered in blood or rotting flesh 99% of the time in Evil Dead.
Dylan Minnette was sturdy and convincing as the male lead - he's not remarkable by any means but he does what he's meant to do and does it well - I love him in 'Labor Day' that films makes me ache.
I obviously won't reveal too much about the story, but from the trailer you can sort of tell that the blind guy really isn't one to be messed with and that these idiots will regret that decision for the rest of their lives - however long or short they may be. I have to say that for just a plain old white man in a vest and not some scary monster he really, really freaked me out. He's like a cross between Mick Taylor and John Wayne Gacy - the former being the fucking lunatic from Wolf Creek the latter being the real life pervert psycho, who used to keep the dead bodies of boys in his crawl space. In short - he's a psycho, played very well indeed by Stephen Lang (Avatar - also a bit of a psycho in that to be fair).
I have to give props to Mr Alvarez (who also wrote it) for a certain sequence involving a certain bodily fluid, containing a hair, in a very close up shot, that actually made me gag. Now, I have seen the sickest shit there is to see when it comes to films and I have never once actually physically had to hold my food down - well done to you, Fede.
Apart from the fact that I was nearly sick, the originality of this twist in the story is quite remarkable - I'm sure its been seen on film before but I cant think of any instances off the top of my head. The fact that you think its going to down the inevitable route and then it just doesn't, really gives you a jolt I think - mildly tinged with relief to be honest. What I am rambling about will all become clear when you watch it. Its genius.
Speaking of twists, I do actually have something to complain about - not because its bad film making, but because it was fucking exhausting! Just when you think the big twist has happened and you're about to get your resolution, you get repeatedly smacked in the face by 3 or 4 more! They were welcome twists for sure, I'm not talking about dragging the ending out until one of us dies like 'Pearl Harbor' these twist made the film even better each time.
The whole film was a mixture of the unexpected, unbelievable, slightly predictable and a little far fetched - just as horror should be.