Highly over-hyped

Rating: 3/10 (1 September 2016)

I came to watch this movie w great expectations after the raving reviews and high ratings. My enthusiasm quickly evaporated.
The movie is about a botched home invasion. Rocky, her boyfriend Money and another friend Alex break into houses to make a living in collapsing Detroit. They want to make a last job before moving to California (chasing a warped version of the American dream?). The target looks too easy, a house on a deserted street owned by an old blind army vet who collected a six figure settlement for the death of his daughter. The break in does not go as smoothly as expected however.
The story is relatively simple and as everything is happening in a confined space/time, the challenge is to keep it going for 88 minutes.
I had several problems w the movie.

The story line feels too scripted, too artificial and sweaty All the backdrops are clichés, as if standard ingredients for a simple dish which the chef over-seasons, over-complicates and over-kills.

There are several holes/illogical events which try to hold the story together. These tricks are just too disruptive for the flow of the film.

The characters are too shallow and predictable stereotypes. The only exception is the blind army vet, but his senses and character get both messed up. Stephen Lang brings a powerful performance, nevertheless he cannot overcome the shortcomings of the movie.

There are just way too many scenes/events/twists and action. It seems that writer/director Fede Alvarez wanted to impress too hard (I admit its not easy to keep up story, suspense and thrill for one and half hours for a simple home invasion).
Less could have been definitely more and a slower pace would have helped (he just does not have that weight and depth I guess yet).
my take: If you are into a scary, annoying and confusing 88 minute ride, then get in. Otherwise stay away.
liked the most: vision of old-glory-long-gone dead streets in Detroit suburb and the voice of the dog like a growling classic V8