This So-Called Thriller Will Put You to Sleep Faster Than the Ocean’s Depths

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I’m not overly rigid about genre boundaries, but I do believe that each genre carries certain expectations or even promises. For instance, if a film is labeled as a romance, I would expect it to involve characters developing feelings for one another. If it’s a horror movie, I prepare myself for frightening moments. And when a movie is classified as a thriller, I anticipate it will aim to increase my heart rate and keep me on the edge of my seat.

Last Breath

Launch Date: February 28, 2025

At the Helm: Alex Parkinson

Script By: Mitchell LaFortune and Alex Parkinson & David Brooks

Lead Actors: Finn Cole, Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Cliff Curtis, Mark Bonnar, Josef Altin, and MyAnna Buring

Age Restriction: This movie is suitable for ages 13 and up due to some strong language.

Running Time: The film runs for approximately 93 minutes.

Allow me to express my personal discontent regarding director Alex Parkinson’s film, “Last Breath.” While the narrative appears to be a gripping thriller – centered around a true tale of survival that unfolds underwater, with high-stakes peril – I must admit, it falls short in delivering any real sense of excitement.

The movie effectively portrays the harrowing details of saturation diving and offers a glimpse into this risky profession. However, it unfortunately fails to capture the nerve-wracking tension that such a life-or-death situation would demand on screen, instead leaving audiences feeling surprisingly unengaged.

Previously, Parkinson was the director of the 2019 documentary with the same name, and while I haven’t watched that version, I can only assume that the feature film adaptation closely follows the facts due to its lackluster performance. Despite boasting some exceptionally skilled actors in pivotal roles, their characters remain one-dimensional and stereotypical, and the film fails to deliver engaging plot developments beyond the initial event. Fortunately, Last Breath doesn’t stretch things too far, running for a concise 93 minutes, but it’s still not an enjoyable use of 90 minutes.

In a different role, Finn Cole portrays Chris Lemons, a youthful professional who holds one of the world’s riskiest occupations. As a saturation diver, he is skilled in carrying out prolonged deep-sea operations, and his debut mission is assigned for maintenance on an oil pipeline in the North Sea. Pairing with Duncan Allcock, portrayed by Woody Harrelson, a seasoned veteran approaching retirement after one final job, and David Yuasa, played by Simu Liu, a reserved individual who maintains distance from his colleagues, they spend days conditioning their bodies for the intense physical demands of their work. With preparations complete, they embark on their mission to the repair location.

As Duncan remains inside a submerged diving bell attached to a support ship on the water’s surface, Chris and David venture down to the ocean floor. However, disaster strikes when the dynamic positioning system of the support vessel malfunctions during a storm, causing the ship to drift. This drifting action leads to Chris’ umbilical cord being severed. Luckily, David manages to return to the diving bell, but Chris is stranded at an oil pipeline with only minimal air left. With each passing minute crucial in locating Chris and ensuring his safety, this situation may sound exciting… yet it’s far from it.

Reality is treated as a strength by Last Breath, but it’s very much a weakness.

When movie creators talk about deviations from truth in films labeled “based on a true story,” they often argue it’s because they aren’t making documentaries; audiences should expect that some creative license is used in narrative filmmaking. However, I wish there was more of that artistic freedom in the film “Last Breath“, as the actual events didn’t translate well onto the screen, ultimately falling short of being engaging or cinematic.

As a seasoned film buff, I walked into the theater blind about the actual events this movie is based on. However, with my cinematic experience, I wasn’t expecting a tale about a man who, despite his colleagues’ best efforts, met a tragic end on the ocean floor due to technical malfunction. Instead, I hoped for an engaging and imaginative performance by the supporting characters that would ultimately lead to the protagonist’s rescue. Unfortunately, my anticipation was never rewarded. The most intriguing event in the rescue mission is when a crew member from the support vessel (played by Josef Altin) enters the server room, rearranges some cables, and speeds up the dynamic positioning system’s reboot from an hour to mere seconds. Frankly, it was rather dull.

Why cast Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu if you’re not going to let them do anything?

It might seem that having popular actors like Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu in the movie would help overcome the story’s problems, as a compelling conflict can arise when you care deeply about the characters experiencing it – unfortunately, this is yet another flaw in the film Last Breath. In my previous description of Duncan and David, I wasn’t trying to be concise or coy by saving revelations for later; there simply isn’t much more depth to their portrayed personas. One character comes across as both likable and wistful as he mentors Chris and bids farewell to a career he cherishes, while the other appears detached but demonstrates passion in attempting to rescue his teammate. Despite their talent, Harrelson, Liu (and even Cliff Curtis, who plays the lifeless captain of the support vessel), are underutilized because there isn’t enough material for them to work with.

Last Breath features some interesting cinematography at least.

Working hand-in-hand with Director of Photography Nick Remy Matthews, Alex Parkinson employs an array of cinematographic techniques to lend depth and authenticity to the scenes. This includes camera angles from within environment-controlled pods as well as footage captured underwater through diving suits. Some particularly striking sequences are noticeable. The most captivating part of the film unfolds when Chris, now free from his tether, navigates his way back towards the oil pipeline repair site. His sole light source is a flare that casts an eerie red glow over the water, adding to its haunting beauty. Regrettably, this visually stunning moment in the movie is all too fleeting.

I express deep empathy towards the genuine individuals portrayed in this tale, and admiration for their rescue attempts. Although the real events were undoubtedly tense, that intensity doesn’t seem to be effectively conveyed as a narrative aspect in “Last Breath“. Not every story about rescue missions and overcoming insurmountable odds has inherent cinematic value, and this film serves as an example of that.

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2025-02-27 04:09