Don’t Breathe Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A group of teens thinks robbing a blind man is easy until they find out he’s basically Daredevil with a creepy basement hobby.

🍿 Don’t Breathe: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Setup: Desperate Teens and a Vulnerable Target

Rocky, Alex, and Money are three Detroit delinquents who break into homes to make ends meet. Rocky dreams of escaping her abusive home life and starting a new life in California with her younger sister, Diddy. They target the home of Norman Nordstrom, a blind war veteran rumored to have a large sum of money from a settlement after his daughter’s death. They believe he will be an easy target.

The Break-In: Things Go Wrong

The trio successfully breaks into Nordstrom’s seemingly dilapidated house in a desolate neighborhood. They drug his Rottweiler and disable the alarm system. However, they soon realize that Nordstrom is far more capable than they anticipated. He’s acutely aware of his surroundings and possesses heightened senses due to his blindness.

The Tables Turn: Hunter Becomes Hunted

When Money attempts to break down a locked door, Nordstrom confronts them. Money panics and pulls a gun, but Nordstrom swiftly disarms him and kills him. Rocky and Alex are now trapped inside the house with a deadly adversary who knows the terrain intimately. They attempt to escape, but Nordstrom has secured the house, and they are forced to navigate the darkness while avoiding him.

The Basement Secret: A Shocking Discovery

While attempting to escape, Rocky and Alex stumble upon a horrifying secret in the basement: Cindy Roberts, the woman who accidentally killed Nordstrom’s daughter in a car accident. Nordstrom has been holding her captive and impregnated her using artificial insemination to replace his daughter. This reveal completely shifts the audience’s perception of Nordstrom, turning him into a monstrous figure.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• The Blind Man (Stephen Lang): A war veteran with heightened senses who defends his home with deadly force.
• Rocky (Jane Levy): A young woman desperate to escape her troubled life by stealing money from the Blind Man.
• Alex (Dylan Minnette): A friend of Rocky and Money who provides security system knowledge and has conflicted feelings about their crimes.
• Money (Daniel Zovatto): The aggressive and reckless member of the trio who initiates the plan to rob the Blind Man.
• Cindy (Franciska Töröcsik): The woman held captive in the Blind Man’s basement after accidentally killing his daughter.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• The Blind Man: “There is nothing a man cannot do once he accepts the fact that there is no God.” – The Blind Man delivers this line, revealing his nihilistic worldview and justification for his actions.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $9.9M
• Domestic Gross: $89.2M
• Worldwide Gross: $157.8M

💥 Don’t Breathe Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I went into this movie expecting a simple thriller, but wow, was I wrong! The tension was insane, especially during the ‘dark’ scenes – I literally held my breath! Stephen Lang’s performance gave me chills, and Jane Levy was so believable. There’s a twist that I definitely didn’t see coming, and it totally changes everything. Definitely a must-see for horror fans!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of suspenseful thrillers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy home invasion movies with a twist”
  • “Those seeking a tense and claustrophobic cinematic experience”
  • “People who appreciate strong performances, especially by Stephen Lang and Jane Levy”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense violence and gore”
  • “Disturbing themes including captivity and attempted sexual assault”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Mature subject matter not suitable for younger viewers”

Professional Reviews

• IGN: “Don’t Breathe is a masterclass in suspense, delivering a relentlessly tense and claustrophobic experience. Stephen Lang is terrifying as the Blind Man, and the film’s clever use of sound and darkness makes it a truly unsettling ride. It elevates the home invasion genre to new heights.
• Rolling Stone: “Director Fede Alvarez crafts a gripping and visceral thriller with Don’t Breathe. Jane Levy shines as Rocky, and the film’s relentless pace will leave you breathless. It’s a smart and suspenseful horror film that subverts expectations.
• Variety: “The movie is a grisly, unpleasant exploitation film about characters that you don’t like going up against a man who is at first somewhat sympathetic and then turns out to be a ridiculous mess of a (human) monster, and it’s directed with some skill.

Audience Reactions

The suspense was unbearable and kept me on the edge of my seat!: Viewers loved the intense and unpredictable nature of the film.

Stephen Lang’s performance as the Blind Man was absolutely terrifying!: The general consensus is that the acting, especially Stephen Lang’s, was phenomenal.

Overall Consensus: A thrilling and suspenseful horror film with strong performances and a unique premise.

Awards

1. Saturn Award (Best Thriller Film)- 2017

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Stephen Lang wore contact lenses that greatly restricted his vision during filming, which heightened the realism of his performance as a blind man.”
• “The interiors of The Blind Man’s house were filmed in Stern Film Studio, Pomáz, Hungary.”

🖥️ How to Watch Don’t Breathe?

Don’t Breathe is currently available to rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. Unfortunately, it is not currently included with any major streaming service subscriptions like Netflix or Hulu, but keep an eye on those libraries as content changes.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Don’t Breathe, you might like these similar films:

• Wait Until Dark (1967): Classic thriller featuring a woman terrorized in her apartment by criminals who don’t realize she’s blind.
• Panic Room (2002): A mother and daughter trapped in their home’s panic room must outsmart intruders.
• Green Room (2015): A punk rock band trapped in a venue fights for survival against a group of violent white supremacists.

🛒 Don’t Breathe Related Products

• Don’t Breathe (Blu-ray): Own the chilling thriller on Blu-ray with behind-the-scenes footage and director’s commentary. Experience the suspense in high definition.
• Stephen Lang Autographed Photo: A signed 8×10 photo of Stephen Lang as ‘The Blind Man’. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity. A true collector’s piece.
• Don’t Breathe – Movie Poster: High-quality print of the movie poster, perfect for decorating your home theater or horror collection. Captures the film’s eerie atmosphere.

🎧 Soundtrack

Don’t Breathe features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Break In” – performed by Roque Baños
• “Basement” – performed by Roque Baños

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

How To Beat: Don’t Breathe

Imagine you’re trapped in a house, hunted by a blind special forces killer. What would you do? This video breaks down the movie’s premise and offers strategic thinking for surviving the horrors within. It’s a must-watch for fans of the film and anyone interested in the art of survival.

Everything Wrong With Don’t Breathe In 15 Minutes Or Less

Get ready for a hilarious and critical take on Don’t Breathe! CinemaSins exposes the movie’s sins, from plot holes to inconsistencies. It’s a must-watch for fans who want a deeper understanding of the film and a good laugh along the way.

DON’T BREATHE (2016) Review SPOILERS

If you’re not afraid of spoilers, this review is a must-watch! It offers a deep dive into Don’t Breathe, exploring the film’s plot, characters, and themes. It’s a great way to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the movie.

✨ Rate