No Real Danger

Here’s a new one – While looking for my 24th film of October 2025, my interest was piqued for this movie not because of the trailer or from hearing about it on social media (soda meesh), but from the cool looking poster. When I saw the thumbnail on Tubi, I thought maybe it was a Tarsem film. It is not. You can’t blame me, right? I mean, look at that thing. Looks right out of The Fall. I checked out the trailer because the poster looks cool and it didn’t diminish my interest. It did, however, disabuse me of the notion that the film might be directed by Tarsem. For one, it just didn’t look like it. And for two, it credited the director, Jaco Bouwer. He directed Gaia, which I liked! Obviously, I watched it. Let’s get into it, shall we?

Anna is an “herbalist” (read: witch) helping an injured general in a one room shack during the Boer war. She is also keeping her daughter, Annie, upright and awake for mysterious reasons, saying that the young woman mustn’t fall asleep. Brand is a private (or some lower rank) soldier who brought the general for help and is eager to get back to his comrades. Brand is anxious and overwrought. Perhaps a bit shellshocked. But he’s drawn to the beautiful and enigmatic Annie. And he is very curious about her mother’s insistence that she not sleep. Anne seems to be pushing the two together by continually convincing him to stay and leaving Brand to watch over Annie while she forages for more herbs. By the time Brand’s curiosity turns to desperate confusion – Why has it been dark outside for so long? Why can’t he remember things clearly? – it may be too late for him. 

 As I was watching this film, I thought, “This would make a great stage play.” As soon as the credits rolled, I saw why. It is adapted from a stage play of the same name. If you are the type to turn your nose up at a film with a single set and a stage play feel, I urge you to give this one a shot before dismissing it outright. The performances are exceptional. And that is key for this slow burn creeper to work. And it does. These actors carry the story with their subtle (and not so subtle) actions and with perfectly delivered dialogue. Michele Burgers is outstanding. Her gravelly voice suits the uncanny Anne to a T. She lulls in monotone while simultaneously unsettling with her words and bizarre behavior. Jamie-Lee Money’s (nice name!) Annie is wounded fawn sympathetic and Sven Ruygrok’s Brand is appropriately disoriented and frantic and terrified in turns. The film isn’t especially horrific, but it is ripe with tension and mystery. But don’t be disappointed. This one will definitely appeal to horror fans. The finale answers questions and turns the horror dial up sharply.

The Final Cut: Breathing In is a slow burn witch mystery based on a stage play. The performances are outstanding and the steadily building tension leads to a frightful conclusion.