‘B’ horror in the SoCal wilderness delivers the goods

This is basically cabin-in-the-woods horror except that the protagonists are camping out. It combines elements of “Shocker,” “Doom Asylum,” “Death Tunnel” and various low-budget backwoods brutality flicks, such as “Desecrated” (which debuted three years later). While the actors who play Warden Wilkes and Van Hausen (the serial-killer) ham it up, the rest of the cast play it serious and realistic, for the most part. There’s some R-rated gore in the manner of the prologue of “Ghost Ship” and one sex sequence with a bit o' nudity (just a heads up).

Critics argue that there’s bad writing and plot holes, but that’s not true. Everything makes sense once you put the pieces together (that is, as much as paranormal mumbo jumbo can make sense). It’s certainly better thought-out than the gobbledygook in the comparatively lame "The Hollow," "The Night Before Halloween," "Neverknock" and “Stickman.”

Erin Marie Hogan stands out on the female front as Natasha while brunette Lisa Younger (Samantha) and blonde Katrina Bowden (Jerry) are also notable. Devanny Pinn is featured in an early bit part as the woman with a scarred face.

There are a few noteworthy songs on the soundtrack, including “Fire and Brimstone (Hold Your Breath)” by Chris Cano, sung by Jaymie Valentine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76oHagN48oQ), and “Freak” by The Maension (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHOGDvc3PX0). “Vote For Me” by Straight Jackitt is quite good too.

This was made by The Asylum, a company notorious for releasing knockoffs of major releases to steal some of their thunder. The low-budget company has certainly put out some dreck (like "30,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Mega Piranha"), but they can also surprise you with some worthy 'B' stuff (such as "The Land That Time Forgot,” "Grimm's Snow White" and "6 Guns"). “Hold Your Breath” ranks with the latter, if you can forgive the cartoonish CGI fire in one sequence.

It was shot at a movie ranch in Agua Dulce, which is a 55-minute drive north of Los Angeles, as well as Linda Vista Hospital back in the city.

The flick is available for free on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3IVKFHwR8o