REVIEW: “Just Breathe” (2025)

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The new crime drama, “Just Breathe,” stars Kyle Gallner as Nick Bianco, a tough guy with a good heart who struggles with controlling his temper. He’s begun therapy, encouraged by his girlfriend, Mel (Emyri Crutchfield). Nick is deeply in love with Mel and has even bought a ring, hoping to propose. However, a shocking act of violence throws those plans into disarray.

Paul Pompa III wrote and directed “Just Breathe,” crafting a potentially interesting crime story and presenting it in the style of a 1990s thriller. This approach has its strengths and weaknesses. While the conflicts are clear and the stakes are high, most of the characters feel limited by the conventions of that 90s style. The plot also falls into predictable patterns, leading to a fairly conventional ending.

Nick had a big night planned – he was going to propose to Mel. Unfortunately, his temper flared up and landed him in trouble. He overheard a waiter at the restaurant being rude about Mel, and he reacted with violence, severely beating the waiter. This resulted in a year-long prison sentence and, even more disappointingly, forced him to postpone his proposal.

A year later, Nick is released from prison, hoping to reconnect with Mel. However, she’s hesitant to jump back into a relationship. Things get more complicated when Chester (Shawn Ashmore), Mel’s landlord, makes it clear he’s interested in her. The situation takes a bizarre turn when it’s revealed that Chester is also Nick’s parole officer – and he’s deeply corrupt, exploiting those on parole to do his dirty work.

The story gets more tense when Chester starts using his power to control who Mel sees, specifically keeping Nick away. While the initial idea is interesting and has potential, it’s let down by the character of Mel. She consistently makes poor choices, has terrible judgment, and strangely can’t recognize Chester’s obsessive behavior. This is also made worse by the actress’s surprisingly flat performance as Mel.

Gallner perfectly embodies the character’s strength and unpredictable nature, but he also brings a genuine quality that prevents Nick from seeming like just a simple brute. Ashmore delivers a suitably nasty performance as Chester, playing him as a bit over-the-top at times, but effectively capturing the villain’s detestable nature. Veteran actor William Forsythe appears as Nick’s harsh and uncaring father, though his role is somewhat limited.

The movie rushes towards its ending, and the conclusion feels somewhat predictable. While it provides closure, it doesn’t fully compensate for the film’s weaker parts. The actor, Gallner, delivers a strong performance, proving he can lead a film, but the story doesn’t quite reach its full potential and lacks the necessary depth. “Just Breathe” will be available on demand starting September 16th.

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2025-09-15 17:57