10 Surprisingly Great Movies From Summer 2016

4. Don't Breathe

Don T Breathe Stephen Lang
Screen Gems

What We Expected: A competent if forgettable little horror flick from the director of the competent if forgettable Evil Dead remake that'll do fine business on the VOD circuit but be quickly forgotten once the summer is over.

What We Got: A surprisingly nimble, terrifying thriller that delivers incredible performances from Jane Levy and Stephen Lang in particular, while director Fede Alvarez serves up one of the most stylish entries into the genre in quite some time.

What could've simply been an efficient exercise in working out the audience's adrenal glands dares to go further by thickly layering on a ton of moral ambiguity that makes the young vs. old showdown that much more compelling. Far more than a gimmicky thriller about a blind man facing off against a gang of youngsters attempting to rob him, Don't Breathe is a terrific showcase for both performers and director.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.