'Don't Breathe" is another in a line of horror movies that confirm my belief that when it comes to scary tales, it's like burgers: Low-budget is best. When you add fancy trimmings to make them swanky, bam! — the authenticity goes out the window.
"Don't Breathe" is made with just the right bargain-basement spirit, and its lack of big dollar signs is as alluring as a cheap vintage clothing shop a week before pay day. You almost want to get to know the crew and hang out with director Fede Alvarez ("Evil Dead") because the movie feels that intimate — cozy even, if such a thing could be possible for a horror movie.
Having said that, "Don't Breathe" is still intensely nasty, and its characters invite no sympathy whatsoever.