Hold Your Breath

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2:26

Hold Your Breath

R

2024

1h 34m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

In 1930s Oklahoma amid the region's horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.

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Critics Consensus

Sarah Paulson is as arresting as ever, but a dearth of incident and scares ultimately robs Hold Your Breath of long-awaited release.

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Abby Monteil

Chicago Reader

Less successful is first-time feature directors Crouse and Joines’s handle on its genre storytelling...as much as a grounded Paulson commits, this cycle of repetitive fake outs manages to make this unique horror setting feel utterly forgettable.

Oct 16, 2024

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Robert Levin

Newsday

It's a fine example of slow-burn and character-driven horror storytelling.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 9, 2024

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Matt Glasby

Empire Magazine

For a debut feature, this dustbowl survival flick shows undeniable promise. But committed performances and striking cinematography can’t stop a shaky narrative crumbling at the last. 

Rated: 2/5

Oct 8, 2024

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Jackie K. Cooper

jackiekcooper.com

As good an actress as Sarah Paulson is, she can't make this film anything special.

Rated: 5/10

Nov 3, 2024

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Jayne Nelson

Radio Times

As credulity is increasingly strained, all the good performances in the world can't offset the tedium.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 25, 2024

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Mel Valentin

That Shelf

As fully committed as she is, even Paulson struggles to elevate [Hold Your Breath's] thin and underdeveloped material, which would probably be better suited to an episode of a horror anthology series.

Oct 20, 2024

Full Review

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Tony H

Without Sarah Paulson, this movie could be a lot worse. The girls were also great in this movie. And the director does a good job making the atmosphere feels believable. The plot has potential but for myself... the second half could end better.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/28/25

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Bill T.

Hold your breath is a movie that depicts life during the great Dust Bowl in Oklahoma and Kansas back in the 1930s. Very well done great special effects and the director definitely directed the actors perfectly to depict this particular era in U.S. history. The acting was very well done I believe the main character’s name was Sarah Paulson and she was superb in this film as the mother of two children that were left to fend for themselves. You could almost place yourself in the shoes of those children and the mother who struggled when the air was hard to breathe and all you could do was stay inside and try to survive the massive dust storm that swept the West. If you like such psychological thrillers and this one is definitely for you and I would highly recommend it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/24/25

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Avindu G

As she stood in the heart of the storm latching on to the severed reason for existence, only thing she sees her are her children's faces and that's what a mother is. A powerful portrayal of love, endurance, trauma and coping. Fantastic acting especially by Sarah Paulson. Excellent cinematography. Great audio and visual effects. A well written tale that would evoke precious feelings of any patient audience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/03/25

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Alejandra C

Weird concept but i guess it wasnt bad. Weird can also be bad though. I think this movie really depends on what You the viewer likes and expect

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

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Oz S

While marketed as horror, Hold Your Breath isn’t a classic horror film in the traditional sense. The acting is strong, the CGI is impressive, and the atmosphere is well-crafted. However, the script feels underdeveloped, as if something crucial is missing. In the end, it lands as a mediocre experience at best.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

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An V

The suspense throughout the movie is unsettling. The setting and landscape strengthens the feeling of isolation. You keep wondering whether there's a real threat or not, and if there is, who or what is it? The acting is great. Worth a watch if you like psychological thrillers/horrors.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

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Karrie Crouse

Director

Will Joines

Director

Sarah Paulson

Margaret Bellum

Amiah Miller

Rose Bellum

Annaleigh Ashford

Esther Smith

Alona Jane Robbins

Ollie Bellum

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Hold Your Breath: Exclusive Featurette - Wall of Death

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Hold Your Breath: Trailer 1

2:26

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Synopsis

In 1930s Oklahoma amid the region's horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.

Director: Karrie Crouse, Will Joines
Producer: Lucas Joaquin, Alix Madigan
Screenwriter: Karrie Crouse
Distributor: Hulu
Production Co: Secret Engine, Searchlight Pictures, MAD DOG FILMS
Rating: R (Some Violence|Disturbing Images)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 3, 2024
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

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