The stockpile of horror films this year only continues to grow, and it’s fairly clear why that’s the case. With their low budget figures, yet usually wide appeal, films like "The Conjuring 2," "Lights Out" and "The Shallows" have already become major hits this year. Continuing the trend is "Don’t Breathe," which has become one of the few bright spots during the late summer drought.

Following a trio of down on their luck young adults who decide to rob a blind man, who isn’t the pushover that he’d seem to be. While "Don’t Breathe" never subverts what one would suspect from a typical horror film, it joins a lineage of films that makes the standard formula into an entertaining product.

Horror films, in particular, are a beast of their own. Where most films are about developing some semblance of characters and story, horror films are driven mostly by the shock and awe of the experience. They may consistently feature characters making dumb choices, but there’s a certain charm to that cliché. Due to their low cost, the genre has become a great vehicle for young directors to display their talent.

Stepping up to the plate here is Fede Alvarez, who is previously known for doing the gruesome Evil Dead remake. Alvarez from start to finish directs the film with an abundance of style and confidence. His use of sound (or lack thereof) and imagery helps in driving the tension throughout. The camera swoops and swirls around the cramped house with ease, with each shot being crisp and effective.

While there isn’t much focus on story, "Don’t Breathe"’s script understands strongly what makes genre films work. Penned by Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues, the film does a strong job of establishing worldly logic throughout. A great deal of attention is put into how each element works, which makes the actions all the more believable. The duo also does a strong job of keeping the action on screen fresh, with a great use of all the different locals in the cramped house.

Where the duo’s efforts go slightly awry is in the third act. The script takes the characters to places that becomes a bit too grotesque and weird to believe. It feels like the film is trying too hard to truly shock audiences, rather than delivering a finale that feels realistic. This final third also suffers from the problem of having one too many endings, with the film overstaying its welcome despite a rather short 88-minute running time.

Don’t Breathe features solid performances from its talented cast, including a fearsome take from Stephen Lang as the antagonist. However, "Don’t Breathe" fails to develop a character that is remotely likable or interesting to follow. This creates a distant from audiences and the experience on screen, with their being a lack of emotional investment as to what’s going on. This quality is what differentiates the good horror films from the classics.

It may drop the ball in a few aspects, but "Don’t Breathe" takes the tried and true horror formula and puts it to good use. Strong direction and understanding of what makes audiences truly tick makes this a fun, yet uneven, ride throughout.

Rating: 7/10