User Reviews

This film follows the journey of Dylan Brady, who is played for most of the film by director and writer Shane Brady (Ballers, Dr. Sleep) and Owen Atlas when he is young, a man who is struggling to achieve his first year of sobriety.

It goes deep, not just showing his journey, but how his extended family deals with him, which is all caused by the death of his father (John D'Aquino) when he was young. As Christmas approaches and he's cut off from his family -- they had to finally give him the tough love that it took to make him reach out for help -- and must go through this next stage of his recovery alone.

June Carryl, who plays Dylan's mother, is incredible in this, a woman striving to keep her adopted family together despite years of hardship. The love that she has for her son shines through even when it's impossible to feel anything for him. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead, who made The Endless and Spring, also do great voice work as some of the characters that live inside Dylan's head.

The rest of the strong cast includes Katelyn Nacon (The Walking Dead), Augie Duke (Spring), Brittney Escalante, Jim O'Heir (Parks and Recreation) and even NHL Hall of Famer Phil Esposito, who plays the future that Dylan could become. Hockey -- and magic -- have a major role in this movie, so seeing Esposito be the perfect older Dylan is a great idea.

Breathing Happy takes you on a journey that's not always comfortable, but the filmmakers were committed to telling what this story is truly like, for good and bad.

Breathing Happy is a foray into the deepest recesses of a mind controlled by substances. The cinematography coupled with the way things change so abruptly takes the viewer on a whirlwind ride while attempting to guide you through the inner machinations of someone lost in their addiction. Shane Brady paints a painfully realistic picture of what recovery truly looks like. The film serves to remind us that while recovery is a positive thing, we have our own demons that bar us from really accepting the circumstances.

I especially appreciate the way the surrealist atmosphere is treated with expertise. Breathing Happy delivers bursts of absurdist, dark humor that never once detracts from the story. I do not take the film less seriously through the moments spent speaking to doors contrast to scenes where our main character is face to face with his drug dealer. Scenes with Marshall feel as if Dylan is facing off with the Devil, removed far outside his element. While the movie moves fast, the story is delivered cleverly through juxtaposed instances of past mistakes with uncertainty of the future.

Personally, I believe that while the story is rapid in its delivery, it doesn't feel overwhelming. The endless flashbacks with the intrusive anxiety felt all too familiar, something that plenty of people have dealt with in their lives. There is such a level of raw honesty gently cloaked in a veil hope told through the eyes of someone who has experienced the downward spiral. Mental illness makes us feel trapped, lost, and confused. What I love is how Shane managed to capture just how real life becomes when you're at the end of your rope.

Dylan carries with him a lot of anger that we only really see come through desperate cries for clarity. From the very start, we see Dylan struggle, stumble, claw, and dig himself out of the whole he originally dug for himself. Shane carries the weight of this movie on skates and with perfect teeth, but to deny the brilliance of the supporting cast would do this film a massive disservice.

Katelyn Nacon is a total knock out in the role of Tristan, Dylan's sponsor through his recovery. Tristan having her own experience with substance abuse brings a completely different light to the life of someone healing from addiction. She offers a sense of comfort, one only earned from someone who has been on this journey, who has walked the endless walk to a better life. Katelyn took on a character with levels of depth we never reach and portrayed her beautifully.

Another total stand out is Owen Atlas. Owen did an incredible job showcasing a growing boy struggling beneath the weight of trauma, grief, loss, and isolation. He manages to portray young Dylan in a sympathetic light while also showing us how early childhood trauma plays a role in our future choices. For someone so young to portray such a big role is outstanding. I truly believe his portrayal of Dylan as a child creates an empathetic depth this film could otherwise be missing.

While the rest of the cast truly bring this film together, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my absolute adoration for Brittney Escalante in the role of Briana. She is a sister, daughter, and friend scorned by her brother's addiction. She harbors a deep-rooted pain and resentment for the upset Dylan has caused in their lives. She holds a simmering hatred deep beneath the exterior of the daughter that had to be strong when all else fell apart. Her performance was chilling and raw. Briana is a character that was clearly neglected in favor of Dylan and Lilly, the third child who also struggles with addiction. Brittney portrays the hurt and anguish that comes along with being the child that had to keep it together, the one punished for her emotions and her anger. I resonated deeply with her character.

All in all, this movie made me bawl my eyes out. I won't spoil the end, but I encourage anyone who can tolerate such heavy themes to watch this movie. It is a beautiful story of tragedy, life, and how no matter how far we go, we can find our way back. We can all breathe happy, regardless of where we came from and regardless of where we've been.

Shane Brady has captured lightning in a bottle. I cannot wait to see the next masterpiece he comes up with.