‘There’s something evil in the air’
Hold Your Breath is a 2024 horror drama film set in 1930s Oklahoma amid the region’s horrific dust storms; a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.
The movie was directed by Karrie Crouse and William Joines from a screenplay by Crouse. It was produced by Lucas Joaquin, Alix Madigan and Marina Stabile.
The Mad Dog Films-Searchlight Pictures-Secret Engine co-production stars Sarah Paulson, Amiah Miller, Alona Jane Robbins, Annaleigh Ashford, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Arron Shiver, Frances Lee McCain, Courtney Cunningham, James Healy Jr, Nathan Gariety, Ethan Woodall and Hannah Mosqueda.
” …an overreliance on repetitive scares and an uneven narrative structure dilute the emotional impact of its harrowing tale of human perseverance. While shortcomings in execution inhibit the film from achieving its full effectiveness, Standout lead Sarah Paulson’s ferocious portrayal of a mother battling to shield her family from outside threats makes getting swept up in its storms worthwhile.” 6/10 Gazetterly
“Where we end up at is of no great surprise and the beats of the reveal feel far too over-familiar at this particular trauma horror moment. Paulson’s commitment is unwavering, and it’s refreshing to see her in genre material a little more grounded than what the various American Horror Stories have given her, but she’s an actor in search of better material and, sadly, Hold Your Breath means that search is ongoing.” ★★ The Guardian
“The directors unleash sound, or lack thereof, to shock or jolt the audience and try to give a sense of their feelings, especially Margaret. It’s a useful tool, but it eventually becomes overused and loses its original impact. They drop enough hints for the audience to gauge where the story is going, but it takes a bit to get there, and the film stumbles along the way. The climax and end scenes are tough and thoughtful, making the future seem, at best, unclear. ” ★★★ Horror Geek Life
” the film ends on a weak and anticlimactic note that is sure to leave audiences feeling indifferent about everything that came before. At the end of the day, while Hold Your Breath is watchable and technically well made, it is a pretty empty experience that does not have much to offer outside of Sarah Paulson’s great lead performance. Though some may enjoy the film’s uneven nature and constantly changing tone, it leaves a lot to be desired.” 50% Keith Loves Movies
“Hold Your Breath ultimately fails to deliver on its initial promise. The supernatural elements remain ambiguous, leaving the viewer unsure of the true threat. The pacing is slow, and the movie relies heavily on jump scares that land with a dull thud after a while […] Hold Your Breath is a visually striking and well-acted movie.” Random Movie
YouTube reviews:
Trailer:
“Lucky” clip:
Release:
October 3, 2024, on Hulu in the US and Disney+ elsewhere.
Cast and characters:
Sarah Paulson … Margaret Bellum; Amiah Miller … Rose Bellum; Alona Jane Robbins … Ollie Bellum; Annaleigh Ashford … Esther Smith; Ebon Moss-Bachrach … Wallace Grady; Arron Shiver … Sheriff Bell; Frances Lee McCain … Bertha Bell; Courtney Cunningham … Birdie Mae Bell; James Healy Jr … Doctor Cox; Nathan Gariety … Thomas Smith; Ethan Woodall … Jacob Smith; Hannah Mosqueda … Janie; Elese Jones … Dancer; Paris Jones … Dancer; Cynthia Perzabal … Dancer; Joanne Marie … Dancer; Lakken Frazier … Dancer; Kira Jones … Dancer; Debbie Whightsil … Dancer; David Phyfer … Dancer; Roy H. Kenny … Dancer; Scott Woodbury … Dancer; Ada James … Dancer
Filming locations:
Oklahoma and Santa Fe, New Mexico
