A One Mann’s Movies review of “Last Breath” (2025).
Due out in the UK on March 14th, I saw “Last Breath” as a Cineworld preview screening. I went in with the misapprehension that I was about to see a documentary (I thought the screen was surprisingly well attended!). There is actually a documentary about this incident (by the same director, also called “Last Breath” from 2019, just to maximise the confusion). But this one is a fictionalised account of the incident, and very well done it is too.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Last Breath” Plot:
Chris (Finn Cole) is a rookie diver in the dangerous world of deep-sea pipeline repair-work. Vouched for by old-timer Duncan (Woody Harrelson), they are accompanied on their dive shift by the no-nonsense Dave (Simu Liu). But when the dive ship systems malfunction in a catastrophic way during a big swell, great danger is in store for the trio 100 metres down in the North Sea.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: PG-13. (The rating details for this have yet to be published by the BBFC – it was reported as a ’15’ by Cineworld… but I *thought* I saw the BBFC certificate at the start as a ’12’. So… this is tbc.)
Talent:
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, Cliff Curtis, Mark Bonnar, MyAnna Buring, Josef Altin, Bobby Rainsbury.
Directed by: Alex Parkinson.
Written by: Mitchell LaFortune, Alex Parkinson & David Brooks.
Running Time: 1h 33m.
“Last Breath” Summary:
Positives:
- Gripping, edge of your seat tension.
- Great underwater photography.
- Solid performances from the cast.
- Good final real-life video scenes.
- Nice score.
Negatives:
- Veers towards man-splaining in the early part of the film.
- The script is a bit cheesy in places.
Review of “Last Breath”:
Remember to breathe.
Like the free-diving documentary “The Deepest Breath“, this is a film that can seriously mess with the regularity of your breathing! There is something simply terrifying to me about the depths of the oceans. I was once snorkeling on a reef in the Maldives and paddled “off the edge”. Seeing a bottomless chasm of blackness below me seriously freaked me out! And I was still at the surface! This film celebrates the guts of those men (and I presume women?) who seriously risk their lives to ensure that we continue to get our trans-continental gas, oil and communications.
The underwater scenes are exceptionally well filmed (by Ian Seabrook, Nick Remy Matthews does the rest of the cinematography), maintaining the mystery and suspense without leaving you completely (and literally) in the dark. A sequence with a red flare is particularly tense and well done.
A strong cast.
Woody Harrelson is getting to find something of a niche in these grizzled but kindly old-timers, and here he delivers in just that same role again. His Duncan character has been told he is about to be put out to pasture. He clearly loves his work and complains that he still has another 10 years at least in him.
Supporting him is the versatile Simu Liu, of Marvel “Ten Rings” and “Barbie” fame. His character Dave is also a well-defined and engaging character. He aggressively pushes all of his personal thoughts about his wife and two young children aside the moment he steps inside the decompression chamber: a 100% professional focus.
Least experienced of the divers, and indeed least experienced of the actors, is Finn Cole as the luckless Chris. I most associate Cole with the rather disappointing horror/comedy “Slaughterhouse Rulez” from a few years ago. Here he does fine in a dramatic role, although he’s hampered by some rather cheesy scenes with his wife Morag, played by Bobby Rainsbury.
Really Real Life.
Many films start with the caption “Based on a true story”, or similar. This film nails its authenticity to the mast with an industrial-strength nail gun. “This is a true story” it says. No “based on”. No “true-ish”. And you have to agree, on coming out of the film, that the story is a truly remarkable one.
In many of these types of films, you see pictures or videos of the true-life participants, and this one is no exception. Among the scenes shown are Duncan and Dave back at work in the deep again a mere few weeks after the incident with Chris that so affected their lives.
A script that veers towards mansplaining.
Script-wise, it’s a bit of a B-movie (some would say, it’s a ‘Deep-C-movie’ …. arf!!) My eyes were rolling a bit in the early stages with the degree of mansplaining that was going on. For example, ship-board dive supervisor Craig (the reliable Mark Bonnar) spouts on to the trained divers in the submersible, as it starts its descent, about the pressure being so high it would squash you like a bug, etc, etc. Duncan (Woody Harrelson) rolls his eyes and says “Oh, he always says that”. Yeah. Right.
And, as previously commented, we also enter cheese-ville with some of the scenes between Chris (Finn Cole) and fiancée Morag (Bobby Rainsbury).
Nice Score.
Finally, the score by Paul Leonard-Morgan is worth mentioning. It adds tension where tension is needed and is suitably loud and bombastic (a little too bombastic maybe?) when adding emphasis.
Summary Thoughts on “Last Breath”
I went in with a low – indeed, completely the wrong! – expectation. But this turned out to be a terrific little film that I would heartily recommend. However, just as “Fall” was not one to go to if you were afraid of heights, “Last Breath” is not one to see if you have claustrophobia!
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Last Breath”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSJL57Gq2OQ .
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I have not stopped listening to one of the closing songs from this film by Gabrielle Aplin GO BE FREE, gorgeous, tear jearking and heart swelling song about everything being connected, the circle of life, grief, and love returning to you. As a widow myself, it is compelling. When there are intense and emotional movies like these, I prefer they be short and yet find they are often too drawn out. This was perfect in time frame. I really liked how it didnt make anyone a hero or the center of the movie, it was about everyone, all were deeply… Read more »
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I agree re the song. The “Oscar songs” selected this year were so poor… so, next year, who knows?