Hold Your Breath (Hulu)- A Spooky Season Review
A slightly ironic title, as I’m sure no one has been holding their breath for this review. I posted this video review weeks ago, and it currently has two views. The world could not be less interested in this film. Sarah Paulson is back on Hulu with another horror title, only this one is a bit more ambiguous. I would definitely recommend Run over this. Excellent film, and she’s great in it.
Here, this takes place in the Dust Bowl, and tries to tackle a ton of complex issues including the role of women during the time period, attempting to suggest an evil presence might be outside that she has to keep her daughters from, and then introducing a stranger who might have some odd supernatural connection, or perhaps not even be who he says he is. It has a lot of ideas, most of which just bog the film down so it feels scattershot and unfocused.
Even with that, the acting here is strong, as you would expect, and there is some solid direction. I know this did go to a film festival, so it is possible it was developed with an eye for theatrical, and just got sucked onto Hulu, like the Supremes At Earl’s All You Can Eat.
It has been a minute, and nothing really stood out to me either way about the audio description. I do remember the movie did attempt to embrace the slight gore in the film, which there is very little. certainly, it is an interesting and twisty film, which ends in a way you wouldn’t expect, but still feels like it was constantly trying to misdirect from a strong central concept.
I can generally watch a movie just supported by great acting, and this certainly has that in spades.
Final Grade: B-
