Respire

Horror / Thriller

MTI Video

R1 DVD

The Romans had an old belief that a person’s soul left their body with their last dying breath. Anyone who inhaled that breath would have diseases cured and have extended life.

Before the Second World War Doctor Kaminsky was experimenting with this and has had partial success. With the Germans invading, though, he was killed before the work was completed. His vials of dying breath and the details of his process were stored in a decorative wooden box which made its way through a succession of owners. Along the way the key to the box was lost. It is currently in the hands of Susan, an antiques dealer, and she has advertised the box on an Internet auction. She is surprised when a young man, Raif, offers her a huge amount for the box and gives her a partial explanation. Curious, she withdraws the box from sale but it is too late. At another auction Susan buys a book once owned by Kaminski. She has an opposing bidder and the price is forced up to astronomic levels. Hidden in the book is the key to the box.

Susan is suffering from terminal cancer. Out of curiosity she opens one of the vials to see what is in it, and smells it. The trapped breath inside enters her body and cures her cancer. There is a side effect that nobody seems to have been aware of. As well as repairing her body, the breath has transferred the memories and soul of the departed. She now finds she has Kaminsky’s memories in her mind as well.

Now she has the box and the book she is targeted by both men. Raif gives her more information on Kaminsky’s experiments but the other man, Alex, seems more menacing. One thing none of them knew was that Kaminsky used prisoners due for execution to collect the dying breaths from, and anyone who breathes from those vials will inherit the prisoners’ vicious psychoses and behaviour.

There are some holes in the plot but overall it is a tense, gripping story. Tracy Teague plays Susan with strength, which is important as the whole plot revolves around her. Although it is a low budget indie film the quality cinematography lifts it well above normal for this style of film.

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