WFG RATING: A-

Capstone Global presents a Thunder Road Pictures production in association with Streamline Global. Directed by Stefon Bristol. Produced by Basil Iwanyk and Christian Mercuri. Written by Doug Simon. Cinematography by Felipe Vara de Rey. Edited by Oriana Soddu. 

Stars Jennifer Hudson, Quvenzhane Wallis, Milla Jovovich, Sam Worthington, Raul Castillo, and Common. 

A mother and daughter are in a fight for survival in this sci-fi action film from director Stefon Bristol. 

Earth has been declared inhabitable due to a lack of oxygen. The only way to survive is to stay underground or in the case of Darius, Maya, and Zora, come above ground wearing specialized oxygen-filled suits but only for a limited time. When Darius heads on an expedition, he goes missing. As Maya and Zora are searching for answers involving Darius’ disappearance, their lives are soon to be changed.

A trio of fellow survivors, made up of Tess, Lucas, and Micah, arrive and inform Maya they know what has happened to Darius. When Maya heads above ground to meet the trio, she soon realizes that the three are not who they seem to be. Tess’ attempt to be sympathetic towards Maya and Zora becomes futile thanks to Lucas’s arrogance. When the trio makes their way in, it becomes a test of survival for all involved. Can the mother-daughter team be able to find out what happened to Darius and find out why these three have entered their lives?

From director Stefon Bristol comes this tense emotional drama with a sci-fi backdrop. Writer Doug Simon’s original script had the film set in a part of Philadelphia until Bristol thought it would be better to set the film in a futuristic part of Brooklyn where a major event caused the oxygen on Earth to be depleted. The film starts out as a sci-fi melodrama, especially in the opening minutes when we see Darius’ friend fall under the scrutiny of going over the limited time in the suit. It gives us a glimpse of what to expect. Then, it slowly becomes a tense atmospheric thriller with the arrival of the three stalwarts who claim they know where Darius disappeared to.

Jennifer Hudson is excellent as matriarch Maya, who is trying to cope with her husband’s disappearance and tends to be overprotective of her daughter Zora, played by a terrific Quvenzhane Wallis. Zora explains to Maya that her dad taught her how to keep the oxygen levels going from above ground but Maya insists she is not old enough to head up there, keeping her isolated. This leads to tension between mother and daughter. 

It is when we are introduced to Tess, Lucas, and Micah that things slowly get even more tense. Milla Jovovich churns out a really good performance as Tess, who claims to know what happened to Darius and tends to be more sympathetic as a person. Especially compared to Lucas, played by a sometimes over the top Sam Worthington, who comes off as sympathetic but becomes a catalyst for something more sinister. Rounding out the trio is Micah, played by Raul Castillo, who seems like he’s forced to be there and at times, can only try to reason with Zora when she confronts him. 

The final half hour really gets it going because there are a few shocking and unexpected twists that really drive the emotional impact of the film. 

Breathe is a tense emotional atmospheric ride amongst the backdrop of a sci-fi film. Jennifer Hudson and Quvenzhane Wallis churn out amazing performances with Milla Jovovich doing excellent and Sam Worthington going at times OTT but doesn’t hinder the film overall.

The film will be released in theaters and on Digital on April 26.