Hold Your Breath
Directed by Will Joines, Karrie Crouse
In 1930s Oklahoma amid the region's horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.
Where to Watch Hold Your Breath
- jackmeatOctober 15, 2024My quick rating - 5.4/10. This flick transports us to 1930s Oklahoma with an atmospheric take on the Dust Bowl era, nailing the period's look and feel. The aesthetic of the film is immersive, from the worn-out, dust-covered landscapes to the haunting isolation of life in a small, wind-battered home. The cinematography is strong, offering moments of striking imagery, especially during the dust storms, though I wish these storms had been used more effectively to drive tension and amplify the film's claustrophobic potential. Sarah Paulson shines as Margaret, a young mother grappling with grief and paranoia, giving a performance that carries the film through its slower parts. She expertly conveys Margaret’s internal battle, making her journey compelling even when the pace drags. Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Wallace also deserves a nod as his eerie portrayal adds a much-needed layer of tension, his character's ominous presence felt throughout. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast feels more like set dressing, failing to leave much of an impression. The film tries to lean into folk horror with a slow-burn, gothic approach, but it doesn't quite press hard enough on the horror elements to truly unsettle. The creeping dread is there, but it often fizzles out before reaching a satisfying payoff. The premise of a mysterious force lurking in the storms is promising, but the story never fully capitalizes on it. While the atmosphere works, the pacing struggles to maintain momentum, and the horror feels underutilized, leaving the film caught between a period drama and a horror movie without fully delivering on either. If the tension of the dust storms and the fear of the unknown had been explored more deeply, this flick could have been a standout. In the end, it's a well-shot film with strong performances from its leads, but it misses the mark of delivering enough fear or urgency to keep you holding your breath (I had to do it).
- inaneswineFebruary 18, 2025From the beginning, I was drawn into the time period in which the film is set. The cinematography, set design, costuming and dialogue all had me hooked. It turns out that that was the only real interesting part of the film. From them on, the film draws so heavily from other psychological horror films - The Others and The Babadook come to mind - that it becomes hard to to decipher what this film is actually driving at. The plot, much like my interest, wandered off into the dust and never came back. Once again, we're given another example of how terrific acting alone cannot save a film.
Hold Your Breath Trivia
Hold Your Breath was released on October 3, 2024.
Hold Your Breath was directed by Will Joines, Karrie Crouse.
Hold Your Breath has a runtime of 1h 34m.
Hold Your Breath was produced by Lucas Joaquin, Alix Madigan.
In 1930s Oklahoma amid the region's horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.
The key characters in Hold Your Breath are Margaret Bellum (Sarah Paulson), Rose Bellum (Amiah Miller), Esther Smith (Annaleigh Ashford).
Hold Your Breath is rated R.
Hold Your Breath is a Drama, Horror, Thriller film.
Hold Your Breath has an audience rating of 4.8 out of 10.