"Don't Breathe" The New Genre of Horror Films

Everyone loves a good horror movie, but many people find it hard to enjoy scary movies nowadays since they have become stereotypical slasher films with girls in short skirts running from a killer who chases them with an axe or chainsaw. However, a new horror movie has come out that is not stereotypical and provides great excitement, fear, and memorable heart-pounding moments to audiences. 

    “Don’t Breathe” is a movie written, produced, and directed by Fede Alvarez. It tells the story of three teenagers who break into the house of a blind man, but end up getting much more than they bargained for as they struggle to escape alive. The movie stars Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, and Daniel Zovatto. In this review, there will be no spoilers. Anyone interested in seeing the film can read this review without any worries that something crucial to the plot will be given away. 

    The film is R-rated for language, sexual references, violence, and disturbing content. It is for mature audiences. There are disturbing moments in this film that can make audience members squirm in their seats with fear and distress. Therefore, potential viewers have been warned.

    “Don’t Breathe” is one of the best suspenseful horror films that has come out in a while. The actors are real credits to the film and play their parts well. Stephen Lang plays the character of the Blind Man and is amazing to watch in this movie; he evokes a wide range of emotions in the viewer. Lang is an award-winning actor and has starred in several films and stage performances. He has won the Grace Award for his performance as Civil War General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson in “Gods and Generals” which was released in 2003, and the Outstanding Achievement Award for 2010’s “Christina”. Since Lang’s character is blind, he is at an obvious disadvantage, but it does not slow him down. The Blind Man is by far the most interesting character of the film.

    The leading lady in the film is Jane Levy, who plays a young girl named Rocky. Levy is known for “Suburgatory” and “Evil Dead”. Dylan Minnette, who plays a teenage boy named Alex, has starred in “Prisoners” and the family friendly movie “Goosebumps”. Daniel Zovatto plays the other teenage boy named Money and is known for his role as Jack in “Fear the Walking Dead” on AMC. 

    Fede Alvarez previously directed “Evil Dead”, which also starred Levy; along with several short films. Direction from Alvarez has shown what enormous talent he has and what he is capable of for future horror genre films. The direction Alvarez gave to Lang, Levy, Minnette, and Zovatto allowed audiences to feel sympathy for all the characters at various points of the movie and for the delinquent teenagers to become more than just the typical horror movie teenagers, that many people find boring and unlikeable. It is not often in horror movies that the young actors are real favorites to audience members, and even though their characters are in the wrong by breaking into the Blind Man’s house to begin with, audience members can enjoy the story unfolding in tension-filled moments. 

    Many people believe this is the best suspense-thriller movie to come out in years. The film is not like other horror films in that the villain is not the average movie villain, but that is what makes the movie a fresh experience for the audience. While the film entertains audience members with just a few jump scares, which is typical of horror films, the real pleasure of the film is that the movie does not give away too much of what the truth is until it is the right time, and when the truth is revealed it is truly horrifying and memorable.