By Becca Johnson - March 11, 2025
If the title of this movie sounds like something you’ve already heard, it’s probably because you have. Based on the true story and documentary of the same title, documentary filmmaker Alex Parkinson has now given this story the feature film treatment. Starring Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games), Simu Liu (Barbie) and Finn Cole (Peaky Blinders), the movie follows a group of deep-sea divers who battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate, trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface.
An unbelievable tale of survival told via great performances and a tense atmosphere, Last Breath is a gripping thriller that despite falling victim to thin writing, boasts good enough filmmaking to make it entertaining and poignant.
Woody Harrelson is an actor that rarely misses, and Last Breath is no exception - he delivers an expectedly great performance. Playing Duncan Allcock, a diver who is on his last job due to his age, Harrelson is the emotional core of the movie and truly embodies the passion needed for a job like this. We are told within the first few minutes how dangerous our characters jobs are, so seeing an individual so dedicated and seasoned is a great signifier for the courage, bravery and love needed for a role such as this. Harrelson is entirely believable. Simu Liu is equally great, and it’s interesting to see him take on a more serious role. Liu plays Duncan’s colleague David Yuasa, a diver with a hard exterior who tries not to think about the outside world whilst getting the job done. Where Duncan acts as a morale booster for the team, David is stoic incredibly focussed on his work - it makes for a nice juxtaposition. Completing our team of three is Finn Cole in the role of Chris Lemons, the unfortunate individual who winds up stranded below the oceans surface. Not quite as experienced as his colleagues and struggling with being apart from his fiance, a lot of emotion is expected from Cole and he delivers it. The look into his home life, paired with his kind and soft personality, makes him incredibly easy to root for.
The filmmaking on display is rather solid, especially the technical elements. Of course, much of the run-time takes place under water, and the cinematography is excellent. It truly nails the claustrophobia that can be felt; despite the ocean feeling like an endless abyss, the darkness our characters are immersed in is all-consuming, making them seem more trapped than exposed to the elements. The camerawork does really well to immerse the audience into this darkness alongside the characters, only allowing us to see what’s right in front of them, and relying on a single flashlight to get them where they need to be. Although this does mean we don’t get the scope, vastness and feel of the size of the space surrounding our divers, due to how frightening and tense the darkness is, it feels like a worthwhile trade.
The sound design complements the visuals beautifully, with a great original score from composer Paul Leonard-Morgan (Limitless) and expert use of silence to amplify those intense scenes perfectly.
Last Breath boasts a gripping true story that pairs nicely with a 90-minute run-time to create a snappy, tight and fast-moving drama thriller. With characters you care about and plenty of fear-inducing underwater sequences, it has equal parts heart and tension, making for quite a balanced ride. It’s hard to judge a film in this manner as it’s based on a true story, but Last Breath does feel quite by-the-books in its layout, doing little to stand out and feeling much the same as other movies in this genre. This by-the-numbers approach may leave some viewers wondering whether they’d have been best off opting for the documentary instead, especially as the writing within the dialogue often leaves much to be desired. With it being especially thin in places, it makes Last Breath feel that little bit more formulaic. For a story of survival this unbelievable and noteworthy, it deserved a little more flair.
The weak writing and predictable nature of Last Breath doesn’t hold the movie back from being impressive. Although underwritten, the excellent performances, attention to detail in the filmmaking and expert use of its camera and sound ensure audiences will have a great time at the movies. Whether you’re booking your ticket to see another turn from Harrelson, a tense thriller or a cool underwater setting, you won’t leave disappointed, as these elements really shine and overall make Last Breath a worthwhile viewing.
In cinemas March 14
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