Breathe (2024) Movie Review
In this post-apocalyptic tale, Milla Jovovich continues to show she is one of the top action stars out there, but the writing and story don’t deserve her.
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Plot Summary
2039, all plant life has died, and the Earth is uninhabitable due to its low oxygen levels. Some of humanity has survived, but for many, the technology they produced that creates oxygen is failing, making people desperate.
Enter Darius, Maya, and Zora. Together, they have survived in Brooklyn, isolated, for three years, but then comes Tess and Lucas, allegedly from Philly, hoping the technology and knowledge of Darius may save them. But, with not seeing people in three years, Tess and Lucas having a gun, and Lucas having an attitude, whether they may create salvation or end up a handful of dead bodies, you spend an hour and 33 minutes waiting to find out.
Content Information
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Gun Violence, Blood, Torture
- Sexual Content: None
- Miscellaneous: Depiction of Corpses, Drinking
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- What exactly caused not only all plant life to die off but, in a matter of 6 years, for the planet to go from what we know today to the desert world of 2039?
Characters and Cast Members
| Character’s Name | Actor’s Name |
| Darius | Common |
| Maya | Jennifer Hudson |
| Zora | Quvenzhané Wallis |
| Tess | Milla Jovovich |
| Lucas | Sam Worthington |
Character Description(s)
Darius
An engineer and survivalist, Darius is the reason his family has survived on their own, thanks to him finding a way to make oxygen to maintain their bunker. But, as with all technology, replacement parts are needed, or death will be imminent, so he has to figure out a way to keep his family alive.
Maya
Maya is Darius’ wife, a horticulturist, who has faith she can grow something on the planet’s surface again. However, years of failures push the idea she is living the dream until Tess brings reality to her door.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Respect.”
Zora
Zora is Darius and Maya’s daughter.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Annie.”
Tess
Tess is a scientist, specifically in physics, who used to teach at Temple University but is now trying to duplicate Darius’ work for the bunker in Pennsylvania, where she is from.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Monster Hunter.”
Lucas
Lucas is Tess’ gunman who is a bit more prone toward violence over negotiation.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Lift.”
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Good If You Like
- Post-apocalyptic movies
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Highlights
On The Fence
While Characters Get A Reaction Out Of You, Something Still Feels Missing
In “Breathe,” one could submit that the best thing about the film is that it is guaranteed to get a reaction from you. After all, Jovovich as Tess is in fine form, reminding us why we watched all those “Resident Evil” movies, even when it was clear the good times were behind us. Sam Worthington gets a good reaction out of you as Lucas, as you see him grow tired of Tess’ preferred way of handling things, and as for Hudson and Wallis? Well, let’s just say it is hard to know whether to blame their acting or the writing of the film as the issue. But they will cause you to want to verbalize your frustrations at the screen.
Why? Well, because they act like idiots in a horror movie who consistently lose the upper hand. However, what also doesn’t help is Maya goes from someone who seemingly dances around using curse words to swearing like a sailor. This, for me, became comical to the point of considering “Breathe” to be camp.
However, like beauty is in the eye of the eye of the beholder, what is camp and what is just utterly bad is subjective. So, while Worthington and Jovovich may put in the work, I’d submit Wallis and, in particular, Hudson, may seem like they wasted all of Jovovich and Worthington’s efforts.
Background Information
| Film Length | 1 Hour 33 Minutes |
| Date Released | April 26, 2024 |
| Where To Watch | Video On Demand |
| Director(s) | Stefon Bristol |
| Writer(s) | Doug Simon |
| Based On Work By | N/A |
| Genre(s) | Action, Sci-Fi |
| Content Rating | Rated PG-13 |
