Period terror and paranoia with Sarah Paulson in the 30s: the new Disney+ movie only lasts 90 minutes.

After its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, Disney+ has just released Hold Your Breath (Aguanta la respiración), a psychological horror film that stands out from the rest of the genre's offerings by taking its story to the past.

Set in Oklahoma in 1933, during the Great Depression and the dust storms that devastated the region, the story follows Margaret Bellum (Sarah Paulson), a mother struggling to protect her children in a relentless environment, while a dark entity seems to lurk amidst the storms.

As her surroundings deteriorate, Margaret begins to question whether the threat is real or simply a manifestation of her paranoia and mental stress.

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The historical context as a source of terror

The combination of period fiction and supernatural elements gives the film a style of psychological horror influenced by the difficult conditions of the historical moment.

An atmosphere deeply influenced by the historical and social context of the 'Dust Bowl' in the United States in the 1930s, a series of devastating dust storms that mainly affected the Great Plains.

Caused by a combination of severe droughts, inadequate agricultural practices, and soil erosion, these storms ruined thousands of acres of arable land. The crisis forced many farmers to abandon their lands, creating a massive exodus to other regions, especially California.

Narratively, the terror is built upon isolation, economic desperation, and extreme environmental conditions, all of which exacerbate the characters' psychological tensions.

In front of and behind the cameras

Sarah Paulson is joined in the cast by Amiah Miller (War for the Planet of the Apes), Annaleigh Ashford (Masters of Sex, American Crime Story), Alona Jane Robbins (Law & Order), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, recent Emmy winner for The Bear. 

Karrie Crouse and William Joines are the co-directors of the film, marking the directorial debut for both. Prior to this project, Karrie Crouse, who solely wrote the script, had worked on series such as Westworld and short films, while Joines also has experience as a director and producer.

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The couple has been developing this project for almost a decade, exploring themes such as maternal overprotection and isolation in a psychological horror setting.

In their approach, Crouse and Joines wanted to tell a contemporary story set in the past, allowing them to play with visual and thematic elements that resonate with current concerns within a historical framework. "This blend of modernity and journalism is key to their narrative," as they explained in an interview with The Moveable Fest. 

*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence