Movies: "AVATAR'S" STEPHEN LANG TERRIFIES AS THE BLIND MAN IN “DON'T BREATHE”

Best known for his iconic role as Colonel Miles Quaritch in James Cameron's “Avatar,” Stephen Lang now stars as the unnamed Blind Man in Columbia Pictures' critically acclaimed horror-thriller “Don't Breathe.”

In the film, a trio of friends – Rocky (Jane Levy), Alex (Dylan Minnette) and Money (Daniel Zovatto) – breaks into the house of a blind recluse confident of an easy score only to find themselves in a terrifying life-or-death struggle.

The trio’s adversary, known only as the Blind Man, is a military veteran who lost his sight when he was wounded during the first Gulf War. His wife died shortly after his return to the States and his only child was run down by a careless driver. Since then, he’s become a recluse, the only resident left on his deserted street.

“This all started with the Blind Man,” says director Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead”). “He’s an unusual character. Movies often portray people with handicaps as noble or saintly. We took this guy in a completely different direction. He is very resourceful and a total badass. He’s the last man standing in a derelict neighborhood.”

Once they break into the heavily secured home, Rocky, Alex and Money attempt to navigate its multi-storied interior soundlessly. But the Blind Man is soon startled awake, snapping into self-defense mode. The trio quickly find themselves trapped in a nightmarish game of cat and mouse that seems impossible to escape.

“The character makes up for his blindness with his other senses,” says producer Mathew Hart. “His abilities are definitely beyond what a normal person can do. It creates unique, thrilling circumstances within the story.”

As the Blind Man, veteran actor Stephen Lang leverages his intimidating physicality and barely contained energy in a powerful and terrifying performance. Lang sees his character as a sort of urban legend — partly truth and partly fiction. “Much of what people say about him is based in fact, but it’s not the whole story,” says the actor. “He did get a large settlement. The situation does seem tailor-made for these three young people. Everybody else in this neighborhood is gone. It should be easy to break in and steal the money. As it turns out, though, the house is not easy to get into and it’s really tough to get out of.”

The Blind Man is not the helpless victim they envisioned, to put it mildly. Within his home he has created a world in which he has every advantage. “He’s frighteningly capable,” explains Lang. “He can more than survive — he is master of this universe. You sympathize with him wanting to defend his territory, even when you discover an unexpected wrinkle. Once you

create empathy with a character, it’s hard to take it back. The audience has discovered his humanity before they learn his horrifying secret. To me, that’s just flat out smart writing.”

“Had life treated this character a little bit differently,” says executive producer Erin Westerman, “he might have been a family man running a suburban hardware store. Instead, he has had to deal with some devastating curve balls. The audience knows Stephen from `Avatar' and will recognize him as a warrior. Even though he’s blind, he’s going to try and overcome anyone who comes into his space. In the end, what Rocky wants and what the Blind Man wants are in direct conflict with one another, and they can’t both win.”

Lang says he found the film’s moral ambiguity intriguing. “The character is undeniably a victim,” the actor says. “But it’s much more complicated than that. He struck me as a wonderful combination of real strength and absolute vulnerability. For an actor and a director to be able to explore that tension is fascinating.”

Lang, a former co-director of the prestigious Actor’s Studio, both impressed and unsettled his co-stars with his total commitment to the role. “Stephen is an old-school actor,” says Zovatto. “He’s been doing this for many years. His preparation and the way he enters a scene blew me away. He’s so into his craft.”

Levy agrees and adds, “Stephen is a very intimidating guy. I was actually a little scared when we first started working together!”

Opening across the Philippines in August 31, “Don't Breathe” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Movie News: “DON'T BREATHE” TOPS U.S. BOX OFFICE WITH $26.1-M, OPENS INPH AUG 31

Augus 29, 2016 – Columbia Pictures' gripping suspense thriller “Don't Breathe” – which Variety hails as“a muscular exercise in brutal, relentless peril” – spooked the U.S. box-office with a chilling $26.1-million, easily opening at No.1 for the Aug. 26-28 weekend.

It joins a long list of recent horror films such as “The Purge: Election Year,” “The Conjuring 2,” “Lights Out” and “The Shallows” that have all found success with audiences.

“Don’t Breathe” cost less than $10 million to produce, but it more than doubled its production budget in a single weekend, after rolling out across 3,051 locations. The film follows a trio of friends breaks into the house of a blind recluse confident of an easy score only to find themselves in a terrifying life-or-death struggle.

“This film is going to be a big moneymaker for us,” said Rory Bruer, Sony’s distribution chief. “We knew we had something special here. This is a film that’s all about keeping people jumping out of their seats and holding onto the person next to them.”

The No.1 launch of “Don't Breathe” in the U.S. bodes well for the thriller's box-office prospects in the Philippines as the film rolls out in local cinemas starting Wednesday, Aug. 31.

The Filipino audience are great horror fans, and the film's favorable R-13 rating from the MTRCB will likely boost the attraction core genre moviegoers.

“Don't Breathe” created a thunderstorm of excitement and wild buzz when it premiered at the recent South By South West (SXSW) film festival, with some critics describing it as “the best suspense thriller in the last decade.” Now, Philippine audiences will discover why the film has driven reviewers at the edge of their seats.

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter writes, “the lean and mean pic offers scares aplenty and at least a couple of game-changing twists.”

Meanwhile, Edward Douglas, of the New York Daily News underscores that the film “takes you into far darker territory than anticipated.”

“Don’t Breathe” stars Jane Levy (“Evil Dead”), Dylan Minnette (“Goosebumps”), Daniel Zovatto (“It Follows”) and Stephen Lang (“Avatar”). Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead”) directs from a script co-written with Rodo Sayagues (Evil Dead). Producers are Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Fede Alvarez.

In his sophomore feature, Alvarez goes for the jugular with an unapologetically brutal and twisted horror-thriller that pits a trio of thieves against an unexpectedly dangerous adversary. Shocking and enthralling, Alvarez’s masterful, visually stunning thriller maintains a frenzied pace to the last chilling minute.

“Don't Breathe” is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Check out my movie review for "Don't Breathe" here. 

Movies: WITH “DON'T BREATHE,” JANE LEVY AINT THROUGH WITH HORROR-THRILLERS YET

We loved watching her as the sassy Tessa in TV's "Suburgatory" but more than that and after her breakthrough performance in 2013's “Evil Dead,” Jane Levy plays another strong but flawed female character in Columbia Pictures' terrifying suspense thriller “Don't Breathe.”

Determined to escape her abusive mother and save her younger sister from the dead-end existence that seems inevitable for them both, Rocky (Levy) will do whatever it takes to get away. She and friends Alex (Dylan Minnette) and Money (Daniel Zovatto) have pulled off a series of elaborately planned burglaries in order to come up with enough cash to escape their dire Detroit hometown. Their petty crimes have netted meager rewards, however, so when the trio learns that a blind man (Stephen Lang) living in an abandoned neighborhood has a small fortune stashed in his house, they agree to go for their biggest and final heist. But their plan goes dangerously wrong when their intended victim turns out to be more frightening than they ever anticipated.

“Don’t Breathe” reunites director Fede Alvarez with Jane Levy, whose unforgettable turn as the demonically possessed Mia in “Evil Dead” has inspired graphic tattoos of the character’s blood-drenched image around the world.

“This is a completely different character on some levels, but Rocky definitely shares some similarities with Mia,” says Alvarez. “She’s a fighter, that’s for sure. She has a purpose for going after that money and nothing will stop her. But the Blind Man is pulling from the opposite direction with the same fierce resolve.”

Levy was the director’s first choice for the role from the beginning, but it appeared initially that she would be unavailable for the shoot. “We went through a lengthy process of trying to find the right girl,” Alvarez says. “No one lived up to our expectations. And then suddenly Jane became available and everything fell into place.”

After “Evil Dead,” Levy says she had decided she was through with horror-thrillers. “But here I am, and it is because of Fede. He is the perfect director to bring the story to life and make it so much more than a genre film. It has an epic, mythological feeling for me. It’s been elevated in a way that only Fede could. This movie reminds me of a graphic novel in many ways. The palette is really beautiful — grey with pops of color.”

In order to get away from her mother, Rocky has started committing small-time burglaries with her friends Alex and Money. “They do it partially for the thrill, but mostly because they don’t have money,” says Levy. “They start out stealing whatever little things they find, but then they hear that the Blind Man is sitting on a whole bunch of cash. If they can get their hands on that money, they can get out of Detroit.”

Alvarez, she says, has created four characters that subvert the idea of good guys versus bad guys, upending easy expectations. “You’re rooting for Rocky, even though she’s doing something dishonorable,” Levy says. “It was a challenge to make her likable, but Fede has created archetypal characters who are complex mirrors of humanity. In this situation, Alex is the brains, Money is the drive and Rocky is the heart, so you can root for her.”

Opening across the Philippines in August 31, “Don't Breathe” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Movie Review: Don't Breathe

"A man can do anything when he no longer believes in God" 

Reminiscent of "The Panic Room" director Fede Alvarez and Producer Sam Raimi's "Don't Breathe" brings the 'home invasion-suspense-thriller' genre to a whole new level and gives it a unique twist-with the intruders who are the ones cowering in every corner for fear of their lives. 

Three teenagers, Rocky (Jane Levy - who I loved in 'Suburgatory'), Alex (Dylan Minnette) and Money (Daniel Zovatto) wish to leave their crumbling city of Detroit for greener pastures and in doing so have been robbing houses to help fund their dreams. 

When they get the tip that there is a blind man who lives alone at home with a  large amount of money, they simply can't resist breaking in. Thinking that it would be an easy hit, they are surprised when the tables are quickly turned when their supposed victim is revealed to be an able killer, with a dark secret he is willing to kill for.  

Taking a play on senses, "Don't Breathe" highlights the use of lights and sounds. From the dorp of a pin, the creak of a floor board to the roar of a washing machine, it is impressive how all of these sound effects played into the film. Even the shallow breathing of frightened teenagers will bring you right in the middle of the story. 

The absence of light is also featured in the film, based on the trailer you'd think that the whole movie would be 'hide and seek' in the dark but let me assure you dear reader, that there is more to the lot than just robbing a blind man in his home. 

Beneath this man's supposed weakness is a strength and determination so great he will make sure those who have done him wrong will pay the price. 

Commendable performances to the entire cast who gave life and more layers to their characters. a special mention to Stephen Lang as the blind man. I'd honestly be more afraid of him than a lot of the movie monsters out there. 

Alvarez was able to make use of the confined space to bring horror and terror at every corner. 

8.5 out of 10, "Don't Breathe" is the kind of movie you watch, at the edge of your seat and your heart up in your throat. Watch with friends for an even more exciting time. 

"Don't Breathe" is in cinemas on August 31 but if you can't wait to see the film then you are in luck! There will be sneak peeks on August 22 and 23! 

Movies: “GOOSEBUMPS” HERO DYLAN MINNETTE A CONFICTED THIEF IN “DON'T BREATHE”

Young actor Dylan Minnette (“Goosebumps,” “Prisoners”) stars in Columbia Pictures' taut suspense thriller as Alex, one of a trio of teens who break into the house of a blind man they suspect has plenty of money hidden away. Once inside, they get a lot more than they bargained for.

(Watch the “Don't Breathe” featurette titled You Can't Hide at https://youtu.be/1ZARrZlri2g.)

Alex masterminds the group’s petty thefts, stealing keys and alarm codes from his security-guard father for a series of break-ins. He formulates and enforces a strict set of rules for the robberies: no cash and no big-ticket items are taken to avoid being charged with grand theft. Cell phones, jewelry and other insurables are all fair game, because their victims can be reimbursed for their losses. But the Blind Man’s rumored $300,000 in cash is too tempting even for Alex.

“He’s a pretty conflicted, very complicated character,” says director and screenwriter Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead” 2013). “Alex is stealing to get enough money to go to law school. In a way, he’s doing wrong in order to be able to do right in the future. He will also do anything to be closer to Rocky, played by Jane Levy, who seems unaware that he is in love with her.”

Minnette was the first to be cast in the film. A former child actor, he is, like his character, 18 years old. When he walked into the casting session, Alvarez immediately knew he had found his Alex. “It was the first time in my life that ever happened,” the director says. “Just the way Dylan is, the way he talks and the way he behaves was exactly what I had in mind for the character.”

A hardcore fan of both “Evil Dead” and Alvarez’s early short film “Panic Attack,” Minnette leapt at the opportunity to work with the director. “Based on his previous work, I knew it would be really special,” he says. “It’s an intense, dark thriller, as well as an elegant, stylish film. It goes to some really dark and twisted places, but Fede isn’t just going for the gore. This has a lot more substance than that. He makes sure that you care about these characters.”

Minnette concludes, “I think who you are rooting for in the movie is going to vary throughout the entire thing. At times, you will be rooting for people you wouldn’t expect to be rooting for. I don’t think you are going to know who to root for until you are done with the movie. Your mind is going to change a lot.”

Opening across the Philippines in August 31, “Don't Breathe” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Movies: HOME INVASION TURNS INTO HORRIFIC NIGHTMARE IN “DON'T BREATHE”

In Columbia Pictures' new suspense thriller “Don't Breathe,” three young friends break into the house of a wealthy blind man, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect heist. They’re wrong.

Directed by Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead” 2013) and written by Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues, “Don't Breathe” stars Jane Levy (“Evil Dead” 2013), Dylan Minnette (“Goosebumps”), Daniel Zovatto (“It Follows”) and Stephen Lang (“Avatar”). The film is produced by Sam Raimi (“Spider-Man” trilogy), Rob Tapert and Fede Alvarez.

Three young robbers (Levy, Minnette and Zovatto) invade a blind man's Detroit home — teenagers who are targeting vulnerable properties in the city as they bid to harvest enough cash to flee the area and start new lives elsewhere. Once they enter the Blind Man’s home, however, the tables begin to turn.

Director and co-writer Fede Alvarez, who shot to international renown with his 2013 remake of the Sam Raimi-directed classic “Evil Dead,” explains his inspiration. “We wanted to make something that was very, very suspenseful,” he says. “And we thought, ‘What is one of the things that creates a lot of suspense?’ For me, it is when you have a character walking into someone else’s domain because there you are under their rules.”

In “Don't Breathe,” when the three young robbers enter the Blind Man’s domain they find themselves very much under his rules – the house is set up in a way that suits the owner, giving him the upperhand.

“I love movies that force me to pick sides but which don’t give me the answers to the questions,” says Alvarez. “And that’s what I’m trying to do in this movie — not give the audience good guys and a villain. They all are villains. They are all doing something that is very wrong, all four of them. So it’s really up to the audience to choose whom they are going to root for.”

“The benchmark that this film tries to reach, and this is about as high a benchmark as one can get, is, of course, Psycho,” he adds. “Is Psycho a thriller or a horror film? It’s really a thriller. But also it’s somewhere in between because it has horror elements,” states Alvarez.

The filmmaker also believes that the audience is in for a groundbreaking experience. “There are some pretty f—ked up choices that we make,” Alvarez says with a smile. “You’ll see them when you see the movie. There are some things that happen that are pretty particular. They have definitely never been done before and there is a definite scene that I have never seen before. You’ll know what it is when you see it.”

Asked how the title “Don't Breathe” came about, Alvarez points to one crucial moment in the film. “There’s a scene where one of the home invaders gets hurt so then, suddenly, he’s trying to hide, but the problem is he has hurt his ribs, so every time he breathes in, he makes this sound. So either he gets found or he stops breathing, and stopping breathing is not an option. It generates a lot of strange and fun opportunities for me.”

Opening across the Philippines in August 31, “Don't Breathe” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.