HOLD YOUR BREATH

(directors: Karrie Crouse, Will Joines; screenwriter: Karrie Crouse; cinematographer: Zoë White; editor: Luke Ciarrocchi; music: Colin Stetson; cast: Sarah Paulson (Magaret Bellum), Amiah Miller (Rose Bellum), Annaleigh Ashford (Esther Smith), Alona Robbins (Ollie Bellum), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Wallace Grady); Runtime: 94; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Lucas Joaquin, Alix Madigan; Hulu Release; 2024)

“Paulson’s performance is masterful, but she needs better material to work with.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

In their feature film debut Karrie Crouse and Will Joines co-direct this tedious thriller set in the Oklahoma dust-bowl in the 1930s. It’s written by Crouse without a clue how to make it more suspenseful.

It focuses on the relentless dust storms threatening the life of a family, as it covers the themes of motherhood, survival, and supernatural trauma.

Margaret (Sarah Paulson) is the mother of two young daughters (Amiah Miller & Alona Jane Robbins) who resides in the hard hit drought area in Oklahoma during the horrific dust storms of the 1930s.

The nervous and paranoid Mom also has to deal with the death of a third daughter, leaving her with recurring nightmares and hearing rumors from the locals about dangerous drifters taking advantage of father-less households. Her kids tell stories about a boogeyman made of dust.

The film exploits a sense of dread in scene after scene, as the family tries to prevent the dust from getting inside the house. Conditions are so bad they wear masks to protect themselves (reminders of the recent COVID period).

The chilling atmosphere sets the bleak tone for the disaster film. Also there’s a conflict with Margaret’s wanton sister (Annaleigh Ashford), and questions are raised if her family can live through this disturbing period.

The film unravels in a plodding manner and loses much of its force, as it ends on an unexciting note that prevents some promising scenes from building it into a whole film.

Paulson’s performance is masterful, but she needs better material to work with.

It played at the Toronto Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 10/12/2024  GRADE: C+
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