Synopsis
The supernatural horror film “Hold Your Breath” was released in 2012 and Jared Cohn is its director. It is one of the many supernatural horror films scraping the bottom of the bucket to get a buzz for their innovative, low budget, and back campy thrill gory premise. Another movie from the Asylum, the studio known for low quality B-movies and Mockbusters, Hold Your Breath has all the charms one expects from the genre with a concoction of possession, homicide, urban legends, and very creative death sequences.
The movie starts with a zoomed in snapshot of an early 20th century flashback of an execution of cerberias serial killer and cult leader Van Hausen. A sadistic murderer with an obsession for the occult, Van Hausen’s death sentence is gas chamber. With a curse and deeply dark spell like swears, he commits to returning from the grave and enacting revenge after his execution.
In modern times, a group of young friends set off for a weekend camping trip in search of adventure and an escape from daily life. In the group are Jerry, the skeptical leader of the gang, and his girlfriend Kate, who plays the role of the supernatural believer and the moral compass of the narrative. Other members include the stereotypical horror characters: fun-loving best friends, an overachieving nerdy sidekick, and an obligatory couple eager to spend some time alone together in the woods.
On the way to the campsite, the group passes by the local prison where Van Hausen was executed many years ago. Kate warns the group about an old superstition: when passing a graveyard or execution site one must hold their breath, or else they risk getting possessed by wandering spirits. Her warning is met with good-natured teasing, and while some decide to stay quiet for fun, others disregard the superstition completely.
One group member neglects Kate’s guidance and does not hold their breath, which results in an invitation to Van Hausen’s vengeful spirit. Instantly, the tone of the film alters from carefree banter on a road trip to dark and sinister. Their friend who got possessed starts exhibiting disturbing and violent behavior, ultimately setting out to kill.
As Van Hausen’s spirit possesses new hosts, the group comes to the realization that they are caught in a deadly survival game. The killer’s spirit moves without meeting any obstacles and shifts from friend to foe, meaning no one is protected. Trust disappears in an instant, and paranoia settles in while members of the group attempt to figure out who is possessed at any moment.
Through her research, Kate is able to single out the cycle of possession and reach a binding conclusion. With her understanding of the supernatural, she managed to emerge as the de facto hero while studying the history of Van Hausen’s life. Kate undergoes drastic change, shifting from a frightened camper to someone bound to stop the spirit from claiming more victims.
The story reaches its peak in a frantic confrontation at the prison’s ruins, where the group faces the spirit of Van Hausen for the last time. Using only the knowledge of exorcism they had on hand, Kate and the surviving members of the group tried to forcefully send the spirit back to where it came from. The final confrontation is explosive, intense, and even bloodier than the last, although the almost satisfying closure hints at some lingering elements that might be explored in future sequels.
Cast & Crew
As in many indie horror films, Hold Your Breath features a cast of actors not new to the genre, most of whom gave performanced that were both infectious and over-the-top in the best way possible.
Katrina Bowden as Kate
As the supernatural believer since the beginning, Katrina Bowden takes the leading position as Kate. With her performance, Bowden keeps the film’s outrageousness in check, lending sincerity with outrageously determined and resourceful characters.
Randy Wayne as Jerry
Wayne takes the role of Kate’s boyfriend and the group’s unofficial leader, Jerry. After he gets over his doubts about the supernatural threats, he becomes one of the fighting forces supporting Van Hausen’s ghost.
Erin Marie Hogan as Sasha
Sasha, a character played by Erin Marie Hogan, is the younger sister of a marine who goes absent without leave — and she is by far the most unrepentant of all. Her rebellious character gives some incredibly tense moments when the possession rapidly spirals out.
Steve Hanks as Van Hausen
Hanks brings to life the haunting spirit of Van Hausen whose presence is felt in the film even without his physical form. His character serves the role of pure evil, which serves to deepen the horror in the film.
Brad Slaughter as Johnny
Slaughter depicts one of the unfortunate ‘friends’ and delivers a great portrayal that captures the character’s turn from comic to truly frightened as the possession deepens.
Cohn is credited with directing the film which is his first among several low budget horror films. The attention to practical effects and jump scares makes the viewer hold their breath. The pacing and energy in the movie fits the campy style as the story progresses, but it still manages to maintain the tension.
The humor and self-awareness are welcomed in the script penned by Geoff Meed, albeit there is little to no innovation in plot beyond cliches. The special effects rely heavily, if not exclusively, on the low budget gore—blood-splattered kills and creepy possession sequences that are splashed with B-Horror Movie charm.
In the woods, the scenes shift to a night setting and later to an abandoned prison. The use of dim lighting creates a claustrophobic atmosphere which is best shown through Stuart Brereton’s handiwork with the camera.
The film features a soundtrack consisting of heavy, atmospheric sound design paired with threatening orchestral arrangements. The combination of these elements increases the tension and amplifies the weight in the possession scenes. The score doesn’t particularly stand out, but manages to effectively build suspense throughout the film.
Critical Reception
Like many of this studio’s films, Hold Your Breath was met with negative to mixed reviews from critics—though it did find an audience with fans of cheesy, low-budget horror. Critics described the film as being too reliant on genre clichés, but some felt it was refreshing as a self-referential B-movie.
Expecting little from The Asylum, most audience members struck by the film’s breakneck pacing, exaggerated performances, and bloody kills. In the context of midnight horror movies, the film delivered what was expected: a light-hearted, absurd, and easily digestible horror flick meant for enjoying with friends.
Though the film did not receive acclaim from critics, it did manage to cultivate a modest cult following. Some viewers praised its efforts to build a supernatural slasher narrative. The film blended possession with slasher violence, offering a unique, if unremarkable, take on tired horror tropes.
Conclusion
Hold Your Breath is a classic example of a B-movie horror that features supernatural elements, campy lines, and gruesome deaths in equal proportions. With Katrina Bowden’s dedicated performance, the film serves a straightforward, fast-paced horror story that works in the film’s favour as it does not strive to outdo the genre, but rather leans into its clichés exuberantly.
Bowen’s movie is perfect for slasher fans looking for some mindless entertainment peppered with possession-fueled chills. While it does little to appease those craving deep psychological chills laced with innovative plots, it marks its territory in the cult horror category as an outrageous and terrifying adventure.
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