Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Hold Your Breath’

Written by Scott Edwards

Urban legends have to come from, somewhere, right? How could people seem to understand what they are if they never truly faced one first hand? Word of mouth is the only way I can see how this has worked for so many years, but there has to be some truth behind them and when they started. Or it could just be a grand joke that someone pulled many years ago and they are now laughing at us from beyond the grave.

High school graduation has come and gone for a group of friends that are looking for one last hurrah before splitting up and going their separate ways. On the road to their prime camping location, the group passes a graveyard. When one of girls yells out for everyone to hold their breath, the group looks at her like she is crazy, but she tells everyone about the old urban legend that there are evil spirts that can enter the mouths of unknowing travelers passing by. All but one member of the group holds their breath, but that is all it takes for evil to be released.

Fifty plus years earlier, Van Hausen was executed in the electric chair and his soul has never found peace. Every year, on the anniversary of his death, he watches as cars drive by his resting place and hopes to be able to jump into one body to bring his fury back to the land of the living. This day, he is lucky enough to find an unsuspecting group of teenagers that could bring him life for many years to come. Having always been fond of the one victim whose eyes he removed, Van Hausen and his trademark has found a way to kill again and with no one still living to stop him, his terror will run until he decides to stop.

---

With one of the group being unknowingly possessed by Van Hausen, the rest of the members find the old prison where he was executed. Walking through the halls, the group does not know what to expect, but it's creepy enough and an electrical storm comes to life once someone sits in old electric chair. Not knowing what they are in for, the group heads up to their camping spot by the lake, but the killing is about to begin. With Van Hausen released, every member of the group is running a chance of being his next victim, or worse, being possessed by the psycho killer. As the group is dropping like flies, an old deputy from the prison comes to help and fills them in on what is happening. When Van Hausen sees that one of his old foes is on to him, it is time to jump between bodies once again and kill off all that oppose him.

Hold Your Breath focus around an old urban legend that you have to hold your breath when driving by a cemetery. When a group of teenagers do not abide with this old tale, they witness firsthand what the repercussions can be. When a psycho killer possesses one of the young adults and start wreaking havoc among the group, no one will be safe until he is put to rest once again. Not having any idea who Van Hausen could be possessing at any given time, the group has to put their faith into an old officer from the prison where the killer was electrocuted many years ago. Having to devise a plan to end this killer’s spree once and for all, the officer tries to kill the possessed, but when that does not work, he has to call in the big guns.

An enjoyable movie dealing with old urban legends, along with possession. It was enjoyable to watch how each character had to embrace being possessed by a pissed off killer from fifty years ago. Although there was a spot in the movie that left me shaking my head when the killer threw out the group’s cell phones without even questioning what they were, it was a fun ride, nonetheless. With plenty of jokes, scares and a sexy cast, it was entertaining and almost makes you want to look away from some of the special effects. Stay Scared.

---