10 Spectacular Movies That Helped Redeem 2016

From Fede Álvarez and Sam Raimi, Don’t Breathe was a novel concept with an immediately captivating premise: three thieves are trapped inside a house following a botched burglary, pursued relentlessly by its deranged, sightless inhabitant. The movie is perforated by the many hallmarks of your typical, run-of-the-mill independent horror – including jump scares, red-herrings, and numerous plot twists – yet its execution develops the material considerably.

In this respect, the movie’s originality and inventiveness elevates a seemingly exploitative premise into something with more substance, positively packed with narrative intrigue. The premise is straightforward, certainly – and might have worked even in the hands of a mediocre filmmaker – but is enriched exponentially by its creative cinematography, impulsive editing and frantic, non-rhythmic pacing, which makes each sequence remarkably tense.

Don’t Breathe was a surprise success – grossing five times its original budget at the box office – winning over audiences with its innovative take on the genre, which is why its highlight.