Cody Kearsley’s ‘Breathe’ is a suffocating plunge into the darkest corners of the human psyche. The film, written and directed by Kearsley, takes you on a harrowing journey with Grace, portrayed with a haunting vulnerability by Keilani Elizabeth Rose. Grace isn’t just losing herself; she’s practically evaporating, swallowed by the murky underworld of drugs, alcohol, and the toxic night-life scene.
Rose’s performance is subtle, but brilliant. She navigates the role with a delicate balance, making Grace’s spiral into chaos not just believable but inevitable. Her dependability on substances is chillingly authentic, and as the walls close in, you can almost feel her desperation, her quiet cries for help drowned out by the deafening noise of her surroundings.
The real star, though, is the atmosphere – crafted meticulously by Jeff Zwicker’s cinematography and the film’s production design. The nightclub scenes, in particular, are a visual treat, with the crowd’s faces morphing into masks of her demons, creating a sense of paranoia and inescapable dread.
Christian Sloan’s portrayal of the night-club magnate is perfectly unsettling. His character is the embodiment of temptation, drawing Grace deeper into the abyss. But it’s the script – sharp, character-driven, and unflinchingly raw – that seals the deal, making ‘Breathe’ a short but unforgettable exploration of self-destruction.
