Screenwriter Karrie Crouse co-directed Hold Your Breath with regular collaborator William Joines. The psychological thriller is set in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl and stars Sarah Paulson as Margaret. She lives with her daughters Rose (Amiah Miller) and Ollie (Alona Jane Robbins), while her husband sends money home from his job away. The death of another child, Ada, haunts the mother as she struggles to keep the family together. When the dust storms come, twine, locked doors, and staying indoors as much as possible are of the highest priority. Rose gets a nasty cough, so Margaret buys a mask, hoping it will help.
But this way of life is slowly coming apart at the seams. Esther (Annaleigh Ashford), Margaret’s sister, is having a terrible time keeping it together, putting her kids in danger. Margaret visits often and gives calming advice while sweeping the dust out of the house. However, the greater risk comes from Wallace (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), a vagrant who breaks into the loft of the barn. While Rose and Ollie can see him, it seems no one else can. Is Wallace real, or is he just a manifestation of Margaret’s anxieties about the dust storms and the death of her girls?
Hold Your Breath works as a dramatic horror piece centered on family. Margaret’s desperate need for her family to remain intact is well-established and engaging. She clearly cares for Rose and Ollie, and they, in turn, love their mother. The familial dynamic is strong and compelling, so when Margaret potentially breaks mentally, the strain it causes is palpable. Wallace, real or not, seemingly fits into the family until the tension boils over and the truth is revealed.
“…the greater risk comes from Wallace, a vagrant who breaks into the loft of the barn.”
But, the narrative does have some issues. Specifically, there are a lot of fake-out dream sequences. While they do serve a purpose, there are a number of them, too many, in fact. The dreams are shot well — Zoë White’s cinematography throughout is excellent — but due to their sheer volume, the dreams tend to disrupt the momentum. To be fair, the dreams lay out Margaret’s anxieties and fears nicely, but still, there are only so many fake-outs audiences can handle.
But Paulson keeps everyone’s attention through the entirety of Hold Your Breath. She’s effortlessly charismatic and handles every emotion wonderfully. Her concern for Rose and Ollie is highlighted during a scene in which the elder daughter is either laughing or crying out. Paulson elevates every film she’s in and does a lot of the heavy lifting here. Luckily, she’s not the only actor worth her weight in gold. Miller reliably sells the terror of the dust and the love for family. Robbins shows real promise and craft in only her third credited appearance. She’s a natural and reveals herself to be the heart of the picture. Moss-Bachrach is eerie and mysterious, while Ashford sells the drama wonderfully.
Hold Your Breath features a lot of dream sequences, which hinders the story’s forward momentum. Admittedly, they do add a strange, off-putting vibe that fits nicely with everything. Paulson shines, and her co-stars are also quite compelling on-screen. While flawed, the movie shows promise and should excite all for Joines and Crouse’s next offering.
"…Paulson shines..."
