SummaryIn 1930s Oklahoma amid the region's horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.
Directed By:Karrie Crouse, William Joines
Written By:Karrie Crouse
Hold Your Breath
Metascore
Mixed or Average
45
User score
Mixed or Average
4.7
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
45
9% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
73% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
18% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Oct 2, 2024
78
In a genre overly taken as of late with “elevated” trauma scares, its gritty, skillful menace is a breath of fresh air.
Oct 3, 2024
58
For all of the horror subgenres crammed into Hold Your Breath, it never conjures sufficient scares.
User score
Mixed or Average
4.7
17% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
43% Mixed
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
39% Negative
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
Oct 5, 2024
10
Great psychological thriller Sarah doesn’t great job in her role. Lots of gotcha moments
Feb 25, 2026
8
HOLD YOUR BREATH is a psychological drama that slowly builds up under the impression of a natural disaster and initially tells of the suffering of the affected population and their physical health problems. The gradually visible psychological effects on the main character Margaret, mixed with subtle horror elements, create an oppressive atmosphere in dark images. The cleverly developed story consistently leads to an obviously unstoppable disaster. The acting performances, especially those of Sarah Paulson, and the quiet, dark and mystical production make the film well worth seeing.
Oct 3, 2024
50
It’s anchored by a typically strong Sarah Paulson performance, to be sure. But “Hold Your Breath” is nonetheless a frustrating work, a sequence of powerful scenes that aren’t tied together with enough tension to make us care. It’s a film filled with moments but no momentum.
Oct 7, 2024
40
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.
Oct 4, 2024
40
Paulson’s commitment is unwavering, and it’s refreshing to see her in genre material a little more grounded than what the various American Horror Stories have given her, but she’s an actor in search of better material and, sadly, Hold Your Breath means that search is ongoing.
Sep 13, 2024
40
Sarah Paulson breathes life into a so-so script, but the film's slow pace and lack of strong horror hold it back.
Sep 16, 2024
25
Hold Your Breath is a strange beast—there aren’t enough thrills for horror heads nor any blood and gore for slasher fans. Even as straight drama, it isn’t entirely successful.
Oct 28, 2024
6
Hold Your Breath is an accomplished story of paranoia set in the heart of desolation. Although the film's narrative requires a minimalistic approach, the performances are outstanding. It reminded me of Victor Sjöström's The Wind from 1928.
Aug 12, 2025
3
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.
Nov 4, 2024
3
Just because the time and setting was brown and bland doesn't mean the story has to be also, discards a decent villain setup for overused and under baked tropes.
Production Company:
- MAD DOG FILMS
- Searchlight Pictures
- Secret Engine
Release Date:Oct 3, 2024
Duration:1 h 34 m
Rating:R
Tagline:There's something evil in the air.
Awards
American Society of Cinematographers, USA
• 1 Nomination
