Breathe (2022) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)

Is it a con, or are they legit? That is what is explored in Breathe as a father/daughter duo attempt to do an exorcism.

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Director(s)	Stephen Kang
Screenplay By	Stephen Kang
Date Released	1/20/2022
Where To Watch	Film Festival (Sundance Film Festival)
Genre(s)	Horror, Young Adult
Duration	13 Minutes
Content Rating	Not Rated
Noted Cast
Jaehee/ Justina	Gloria Zhang
Paul	CJ Hwang

Film Summary

Paul and his daughter Jaehee, under the pseudonym Justine, perform exorcisms to make a living. However, it’s hard to say whether this is a ruse to ease the feelings of those taking care of someone mentally ill or if it is legit.

Cast & Character Guide

Please Note: This is not an exhaustive list of every cast member.

Justina/ Jaehee

Potentially gifted and certainly exploited by her dad, Jaehee, named Justina during the exorcisms, is worn down by what is expected of her and how she is expected to financially save her family.

Paul

Desperate for money, to the point of finding and taking advantage of people, Paul leans heavily on his daughter, who may have some sort of gift, to keep the family afloat.

Other Noteworthy Information

• Reason(s) for Film Rating: Cursing, self-harm, blood

Review

Highlights

Not Knowing, Until The End, How Much Was Just Performance

While the person being exorcised is doing all you expect, from calling people whores to saying Jaehee’s mother is in hell, you aren’t really sure whether Paul is faking it or not. Jaehee, she might be legit, but as for her dad? It isn’t clear if him praying and following a script is a sign that he is just exploiting his kid and inserting himself into the situation or not.

Heck, while we see the patient potentially heal, as Jaehee talks about the person likely needing a doctor, more and more you wonder if they are just taking advantage of a desperate woman than really doing something, at least until we reach the end.

Overall

Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)

Exorcisms are often over the top, and I think what Breathe tapped into was the weight of it all, especially when facing off against a potentially evil spirit. One which may have just been a mental illness of some kind, and it is with acknowledging that sometimes it isn’t a demon, but a chemical imbalance, that the short accidentally taps into how mentally ill people having been exploited. Thus giving it a unique story amongst the many which utilize people’s interest in the supernatural.

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