MOVIE REVIEW DON’T BREATHE

Three friends (Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, and Daniel Zovatto) plot to end their money woes by burglarizing the home of a blind recluse (Stephen Lang), but the heist quickly goes awry when they discover that their target is concealing a horrifying secret -- and that he isn't as harmless as they had thought. Directed by Fede Alvarez (the 2013 Evil Dead remake). ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi

Director: Fede Alvarez 

Cast: Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, Stephen Lang, Katia Bokor

Release Date: Aug 26, 2016

Rated R for the Language, Disturbing Content, Sexual References, Terror and Violence

Runtime: 1 hr. 28 min.

Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Don’t Breathe is the kind of stripped down thriller that doesn’t seem to get made much anymore.  The film is being sold as a horror movie but it’s really just a straight forward thriller with some slight horror tendencies.  Fede Alvarez carefully sets up his setting and delivers some genuine scares and tensions the full run of the film.  It’s an interesting piece of cinematic alchemy with large portions of the film moving along with nary a word of dialogue.  The cast does it job with the home intruders delivering a decent amount of terrified looks.  The most memorable thing about them is Jane Levy’s odd fashion choice of pantyhose with shorts and sheer top for a home invasion.  Stephen Lang is appropriately intimidating but I get the feeling he could pull that off on a bad day.  

B

MOVIE REVIEW: EVIL DEAD

The Deadites return in this revamp of the Evil Dead franchise from newcomer director Fede Alvarez. The action centers on a group of friends who head out to an isolated cabin in order to clean up their drug-addicted friend (Jane Levy).. The helmer wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues. Film series veterans Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and Bruce Campbell handle producing duties on the Ghost House Pictures production for Sony Pictures Entertainment. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director Fede Alvarez

Cast: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Jim McLarty

Release Date: Apr 05, 2013

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genres: Horror

Review:

Stilted acting, outrageous gore and inventive camera work made the original Evil Dead a horror camp classic. A remake of that film is terribly unnecessary just like all the other unnecessary remakes but it’s a trend that won’t stop so I will. This re-imagining focuses on the same cabin with a group of pretty 20 somethings expect one of them is trying to get clean this go around. When the action starts it engages in a full throttle assault on the senses. Fede Alvarez gives the original it due with a ton of winks and nods but while delivering an over the top gross out that’s as campy as the original. The trailers suggested a more serious tone but the film is just as stupid as the original. The characters are intentionally idiotic and moronic. The FX are notch though, delivering some of the best gross out gore I’ve seen in a long while. Jane Levy, in heavy make up for the better part of the film, does her best to add a little something to her character but it’s not really required for carnival of carnage that borrows heavily from all kinds of horror sources even recalling The Exorcist on occasion. It all builds to a rather thrilling 3rd act that’s rather insane but satisfying at the same time.

B+