Last Breath Review: Woody Harrelson Stars in Nightmarish True Story

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At one point, I traveled to Puerto Rico with my partner, intending to go snorkeling – that delightful pastime of peering a few inches beneath the water’s surface to marvel at marine life. However, in an unexpected turn, I couldn’t bring myself to do it at the last moment. What’s a little dignity compared to that? Characters in the book “Last Breath” descend 330 feet underwater. In essence, I’ve just lived through my deepest fear.

As a fervent admirer, let me share with you an extraordinary tale unlike any other – this movie portrays the gripping journey of saturation divers who plunge deep beneath the ocean’s shrouded depths. When diver Chris Lemons (portrayed by Finn Cole) finds himself separated from his lifeline, he is left stranded in the cold, dark abyss with mere breaths remaining in his gas tank. Last Breath narrates the race against time to save Chris before it’s too late. Director Alex Parkinson reimagines his 2019 documentary on this subject into a feature-length narrative film that delivers an enthralling underwater thriller, yet falls short of its full potential at certain junctures due to a few bumps along the way.

When transforming a real-life event into a Hollywood movie, there are necessary adjustments. Last Breath primarily sticks to the original story, but it’s not an exact replica. The film introduces us to the world of saturation diving, a job that carries immense risks, much like space exploration for astronauts. Just as movies like Apollo 13 and Gravity depict characters stranded in space, Last Breath features individuals trapped in the ocean. Similar to the perilous conditions in space, these characters have limited oxygen supply and if they don’t escape quickly, their fate will be dire.

Initially, we encounter Chris, who’s in a heartfelt romantic relationship with Morag (portrayed by Bobby Rainsbury). The movie doesn’t delve deeply into his character, yet it makes clear that he’s relatively new to his profession compared to his colleagues, adding an element of risk. The narrative’s emotional and physical perils are intertwined significantly, a crucial aspect for this tale. As the story progresses, we’re introduced to some of his workmates, such as Duncan Allcock (played by Woody Harrelson), who is about to retire, and David Yuasa (Simu Liu), known for his no-nonsense approach. The first act aims to familiarize the audience with these characters, but it merely skims over their details.

A more impactful version of this script could be crafted to maximize drama, suspense, and emotional depth for all characters involved. In the film “Last Breath,” it sometimes seems that only the essential elements are presented. Nevertheless, once the main event occurs, the movie significantly improves. One particularly powerful scene happens when the umbilical cord breaks, causing complete silence in the scene. This is a deliberate directorial decision that caused audible gasps from my viewers. Furthermore, we occasionally see a timer on screen displaying the minutes of oxygen remaining in Chris’s tank, and eventually, the time he’s been without any oxygen at all.

In addition, there are numerous instances within a control room where individuals attempt to rescue Chris from afar. These scenes are remarkably effective, largely due to the exceptional acting talents of Cliff Curtis and Mark Bonnar who provide a solid foundation. However, a significant portion of the second act seems to overlook Harrelson and Liu’s characters, despite their potential to be the most captivating on screen. Harrelson consistently delivers remarkable performances in every scene he’s part of, and he is given one monologue that highlights his determination to secure Chris’ safety. However, the story he tells during this monologue revolves around someone else, rather than himself. If it were about him, the drama would undoubtedly be more impactful.

Regarding Liu’s character, it’s a significant missed chance for more depth. Initially brusque in the movie, he evolves into one of the key figures in attempting to rescue Chris. However, his character doesn’t offer much intrigue beyond that point. The film offers him numerous opportunities, particularly during the climax, but there is insufficient emotional resonance. If the film had established more conflict between Chris and Liu early on, the impact of Liu’s efforts to save Chris would have been more profound. Unfortunately, many dialogue scenes fall short of their potential for greatness, settling instead for being merely good.

The movie “Last Breath” immerses you deeply into the action, making it challenging not to become emotionally involved in the narrative. The perilous circumstances are so palpable that you can practically feel them. Though the story doesn’t revolve around global catastrophe, the tension is powerful because it centers on a life-saving mission. Although it doesn’t quite live up to its full promise, the movie is an exhilarating saga by nature and effectively showcases human endurance as a theme.

SCORE: 6/10

According to the explanation in ComingSoon’s review policy, a score of 6 translates to “Average” or “Decent.” Unfortunately, it falls short of reaching its maximum potential and offers an ordinary, typical experience.

Disclosure: ComingSoon attended Focus Features‘ world premiere for our Last Breath review.

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2025-02-27 04:10