‘Last Breath’ Review: Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu in a Taut Deep-Sea Survival Nail-Biter

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Individuals who endure harrowing ordeals of survival ought to focus on the positive aspects. In the not-too-distant future, it’s possible that a charismatic actor might portray you in a blockbuster film. However, this may not have crossed the minds of the three main characters featured in “Last Breath“, as it tells the intense tale of the attempts to save a deep-sea diver trapped underwater without oxygen. Yet, they can take comfort in knowing that their story has been compellingly presented in this edge-of-your-seat thriller, which does an impressive job of condensing its narrative to only the most crucial details.

Unlike most films of its genre, “Last Breath” doesn’t linger on introductions. Instead, it quickly sets the stage by presenting us with the youngest diver, Chris Lemons (Finn Cole from “Peaky Blinders,” “Animal Kingdom”), who bids farewell to his anxious fiancée (Bobby Rainsbury) before embarking on a repair mission beneath the Black Sea alongside his colleagues Duncan Allock (Woody Harrelson) and Dave Yuasa (Simu Liu). The crew is aboard a ship, their destination being deep within the ocean.

As a gamer, I can tell you that each character in this game is skillfully drawn with swift and effective brush strokes. Chris, the young gun, is eager to make an impact, while Duncan, who’s feeling the weight of this last mission, is full of wisecracks and irreverence, much like Harrelson off-screen. Lastly, Dave exudes authority through his stoic demeanor, a true leader in every sense.

During a fierce storm, the electronic navigation system on their ship malfunctions, leaving Chris and Dave, who were deep-sea diving at considerable depths underwater, without guidance. Unfortunately, this mishap caused Chris to lose his tether, drifting away with just ten minutes of oxygen remaining in his suit.

Mostly, the short duration of the movie focuses on showing the ship’s attempts to retrieve the now unconscious Chris using an underwater mechanical device, similar to grabbing a toy from one of those crane arcade games. Meanwhile, Dave and Duncan are working frantically through the diving bell, which they had descended into earlier.

If the situation wasn’t intense enough already, the movie displays countdowns showing how much time Chris has left before he runs out of oxygen, and later, his “Time Without Oxygen.” This becomes increasingly unsettling as it becomes clear that the focus is no longer on saving Chris, but rather on recovering his body. Even if you’re not familiar with the events that occurred, it’s not hard to predict that the ending won’t be a positive one.

Similar to Apollo 13, which kept audiences on edge despite its known outcome, Last Breath offers a nail-biting, inevitably confined experience that leaves you clutching your breath. Director Parkinson, having immersed himself in this story for so long, has masterfully honed his ability to build tension and makes the action visually engaging even when it’s set in dark and murky underwater environments.

As a gamer, I’d say this movie doesn’t linger on chatty conversations, and you could have a blast playing a drinking game centered around the phrase “copy that.” Yet, the creators manage to convey the nail-biting incidents with remarkable realism – some scenes were even filmed on the very ship connected to the event.

The film showcases remarkable acting from its main characters, along with standout performances by Cliff Curtis as the ship’s captain and Mark Bonner as the dive supervisor. The captain is portrayed as having to make tough decisions, while the dive supervisor displays his concern for his team’s safety. Furthermore, when tension begins to wane, the powerful music score by Paul Leonard-Morgan kicks in to keep the suspense alive.

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2025-02-27 04:24