Last Breath is actually suspenseful and builds towards that in increments. About 40 minutes in, Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), a deep-sea diver, is stuck on his own 330 feet below the ocean and without oxygen. With so much of the film left to go, I wondered how on earth director Alex Parkinson, who also directed the documentary chronicling the true story, would handle the rest of the film. I shouldn’t have been worried. Last Breath is a gritty, grounded thriller that knows how to keep us hooked. A stellar cast and a story told right keep this film afloat.
The film is based on what happened to Chris and Parkinson’s 2019 documentary. In 2012, Chris joined divers Duncan (Woody Harrelson) and Dave (Simu Liu) on a saturation dive to make repairs in the North Sea. The supporting ship is caught in a storm, however, causing it to veer off course. Chris’ umbilical cable is caught and he’s stranded hundreds of feet at the bottom of the ocean, with the crew and divers having to abort the mission and work together to rescue Chris — alive or ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.
Last Breath Is A Raw Thriller That Properly Builds Suspense
Last Breath isn’t concerned with showing off; it’s not filled with glitzy action sequences or extravagant thrills. It trusts its story to be enthralling on its own — and it really is — and therein trusts us to engage with its very humble and old-school execution. Even the way its story unfolds feels a different ere. It’s straightforward but has enough character-building and stakes tied to its core tension. It made me sit at the edge of my seat in anticipation of what would happen to Chris. This is regardless of your familiarity with Last Breath’s true story inspiration.
The film not only focuses on what happens with Chris but also how the crew — from Captain Andre Jenson (Cliff Curtis) to the first mate, Hanna (MyAnna Buring) — reacts to it. The emotional moments his as hard as the rescue itself because Parkinson’s direction and the screenplay, which he wrote with Mitchell LaFortune and David Brooks, smartly don’t neglect them. Nor does the film sensationalize their reactions for the sake of drama. The actor’s performances feel more touching and raw because of that.
Last Breath is simple. It goes back to the basics of what makes a thriller so gripping.
What’s more, the heightened emotions and suspense are made all the more powerful thanks to Paul Leonard-Morgan’s gorgeous and riveting score. So many films lately have had little to no score; if it’s there, it’s not very memorable or effective. That’s not the case here at all. Last Breath’s score is rousing, ebbing and flowing with the story. At one point, I was holding my breath as the music grew more tense, while at another point my heartstrings were being tugged at. It’s the perfect balance of music, story beats, and visuals, moving in tandem to create something powerful.
Last Breath’s Cast Drives Home The Emotion
Every Character Has Their Reactions Spotlighted
Finn Cole is excellent as Chris. He’s out for the count for a lot of the movie but he makes the most of his screen time, especially as he brings the more poignant and emotionally driven moments to the forefront. There’s a significant and moving scene right before Chris loses consciousness that involves his fiancée, Morag (Bobby Rainsbury). Their relationship is the emotional core of the film and they both give stirring, understated performances.
The rest of the cast gets their time to shine, too. Woody Harrelson gives a solid performance as Duncan, who’s on his final dive before retirement (something he doesn’t want). The actor is quietly feeling, his eyes expressing what he doesn’t say. His relationship with Chris is especially sweet and it’s easy to tell they have a history after only one interaction. Simu Liu is the more stoic of the three, a diver who likes to separate his personal from his professional. This makes him seem unfeeling sometimes, but Liu’s performance underscores the emotions brewing beneath the facade.
The supporting cast, especially Cliff Curtis, is a highlight. They don’t share too many scenes with the main actors, but there’s a sense of camaraderie and responsibility that flows through every scene. They treat the situation with the gravity it deserves but there’s no overacting to get the point across. In a surprisingly emotional moment, Curtis’ character is turned away from everyone but when he’s called upon, the unshed tears in his eyes speak volumes but he’s quick to ensure the ship is running smoothly thereafter. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment the film wordlessly highlights.
Last Breath is simple. It goes back to the basics of what makes a thriller so gripping. The fact it’s based on a true story makes it all the more interesting. Ultimately, it’s a film that understands that being grounded can be a good thing. I was also grateful the script wasn’t overly expository. It told us what we needed to know and showed us without lingering unnecessarily. Character interactions are also understated but lovely.
Perhaps surprisingly, Last Breath may be the most suspenseful movie of the year. You might see the trailer and want to overlook it, but it’s a solid film with nail-bitingly stressful moments. It’ll definitely fill the gap left behind by so many lackluster thrillers. It works on several levels and, while I wanted just a tad more character interactions between the main trio, I was locked into the film the entire way through. Last Breath is a good example of back-to-basics filmmaking that zeroes in on what works without overstaying its welcome or losing momentum.
