Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gore, blood, and death in Dust Bowl-set thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hold Your Breath
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In HOLD YOUR BREATH, Margaret (Sarah Paulson) is trying to protect her daughters from the Dust Bowl conditions of their small Oklahoma Panhandle town. But as conditions get worse, and as more people die, Margaret starts to suspect something more dangerous lurking around. Will she be able to keep her children safe?
Is It Any Good?
This film, despite its strong cast, seems to struggle with feeling like it needs to stay true to the historical accuracy of 1933 Oklahoma. Thus, while Hold Your Breath is sometimes captivating and strongly led by Sarah Paulson, occasional structure issues and pacing setbacks hamper the film's engagement and emotional impact. Further, it's hard not to feel like the story is hand-fed, and partially because of this the film misses an opportunity to be mysteriously vague in delivering a story that obscures "what exactly was going on." Instead, each step of the way, the film feels like it is worried that the audience won't understand what's happening, when in reality, most audiences will be already there, and some will even be ahead of schedule.
Structurally, the film seems to be going for a kind of historical Dust Bowl realism. By the third act, though, it can't decide whether to forgo those foundations for more ludicrous content or to stick with the plan and "keep it real." Sarah Paulson, at least, keeps things admirably consistent with her solid performance that forces her to go to many different emotional places. Also, kudos to Ebon Moss-Bachrach's preacher, who adds an incredible counter to Paulson during his scenes. Unfortunately, Moss-Bachrach's character is underutilized, but these two great actors do have their moments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in thrillers. Did any of the violence in Hold Your Breath surprise you? What effect does sudden and gruesome gore do for the film? Would this film be as scary without these violent moments?
Do you think the characters make good decisions in this film? Why, or why not?
Are you satisfied with the ending? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 3, 2024
- Cast : Sarah Paulson , Amiah Miller , Alona Jane Robbins , Annaleigh Ashford
- Directors : Karrie Crouse , William Joines
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Hulu
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence/disturbing images
- Last updated : October 16, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate