BREAKING IN
US, 2018, 88 minutes, Colour.
Gabrielle Union, Billy Burke, Richard Cabral, Ajiona Alexus, Levi Meadon, Seth Carr, Jason George.
Directed by James Mc Teigue.
The breaking in of the title refers to a home invasion. The film builds up tension as a mother with her children come to a home, are taken hostage by a vicious gang searching for money in the house.
The mother uses her ingenuity, as do the children, especially the older daughter.
There are also complexities in the plot, the background of the money stashed in the house.
The film was directed by James Mc Teigue who made a number of action films including V for Vendetta.
1. A home invasion story, response of the family, the response of the mother? Outwitting the criminals?
2. The city, joggers, the car accident, the murder? The American countryside, the holiday home? The woods? The interiors of the home, luxury, IT and surveillance, gadgets? The musical score?
3. The situation, the dead man, criminal background, the holiday home, luxury, stashing money? His death? His daughter inheriting, the alienation from her father? Her husband, with the two children, the drive? Into the house, the discovery of all the gadgets, settling in?
4. The invaders, Eddie as the leader in brains, Peter and his being caught and Sean’s treatment, as hostage, Eddie shooting him? The young man, from prison, some compassion for the children? The psychotic criminal, his appearance, behaviour, confrontations, killing the visiting woman, the clash with Eddie and his death? Tormenting the children, confronting Sean? Her using his knife to defend herself?
5. The children, settling in, taken hostage? The daughter using her ingenuity, finding her mother, getting the information, the safe? Protecting her brother, cutting herself free? The escapes, in the car with their mother, the crash? The eventual escape? The father’s arriving, unsuspecting, his being brutalised, the going to his help?
6. The focus of the film on Sean, her courage, schools, using the IT, the music, on the roof, using Peter as a bargaining chip? The car, the escape? Her being brutalised, her husband and warning him? The current children? The continued danger, her final vindication?
7. Audience identification with Sean and her family, hostile response to the criminals?
