Technical assessment: 3.5
Moral assessment: 2
CINEMA rating: V18
Rocky (Levy) desperately dreams of moving to California with her younger sister to escape her negligent mother. So she convinces her delinquent boyfriend Money (Zovatto) and her friend Alex (Minnette) to keep breaking into the homes secured by Alex’s father until they raise enough funds. Since they only steal items instead of cash, they are usually shortchanged by their buyer. Money gets a tip about an army veteran hiding $300,000 in his house, which is located at the end of a deserted street. Money is further emboldened to proceed with the plan immediately when they realize that the owner is blind and alone. But the three soon find out that the blind man is not that helpless, innocent, nor merciful and soon become the prey of their own game.
The success of the Don't breathe lies in the brilliance of its cinematography and performance of Lang. Instead of relying on gore and shock value, director Alvarez drives home the chill and suspense with claustrophobic setting armed with inventive continuous shots and clever use of lights and darkness. The plot and twist cut fresh paths into one’s primal fear—the unknown. Stephen Lang is so effectively menacing yet his character puts the audience in a moral struggle: is he the victim or is he not? Cleverly woven into the main plot are the backstories of the two main characters: the blind man protecting his home and seeking restitution for the wrong done to him, and Rocky trying to escape destruction yet finding her life at risk. This further complicates the moral dilemma the audience faces, thus bringing the horror beyond the cat and mouse suspense. There are a few underdeveloped themes and over-the-top scenes but overall, Alvarez’ attack is intriguing and cohesive.
Don't breathe does not have the usual blood and gore but its inappropriateness for the younger audience stems from the unresolved morality it presents: who is justified for the crimes committed? We feel sorry and sympathetic for what our protagonist and antagonist are going through yet we see how unethical their choices are. And since neither Rocky nor the blind man will be punished, are we saying that they even out each other’s wrong doings? The movie needs a deeper and higher discourse which might be misleading for younger and immature audiences.
