There is something to be said for a story of human endurance against insurmountable odds. It is what many of the best—or at least most memorable—movies from the ’90s all share, and this year’s Last Breath tries its hardest to capture that same feeling.
Last Breath, directed by Alex Parkinson, brings to the big screen the harrowing true story of diver Chris Lemons, who, in 2012, found himself stranded 100 metres underwater with only minutes of emergency oxygen. It is a tense story that has all the elements to work. If the character writing were on the same level as the concept, we would have another classic.
Last Breath’s premise is deceptively simple. Chris Lemons (Cole), a capable but young diver, leaves his anxious fiancée, Morag (Bobby Rainsbury), for what should be a routine diving mission. Joined by the soon-to-retire, folksy veteran Duncan (Harrelson) and the stern but legendary Dave (Liu), the trio descends to work on an underwater pipeline during a storm.
When disaster strikes and the support vessel drifts in rough seas, Chris’s umbilical tether—providing oxygen, heat, light and communications—snaps, leaving him stranded in the freezing darkness with only minutes of emergency air.
What follows is a race against time as the crew aboard the vessel, led by Captain Andre Jenson (Cliff Curtis), scrambles to fix technical issues while Duncan and Dave attempt to locate and rescue their colleague before his oxygen runs out—all while trying to avoid an environmental catastrophe from one wrong move near a gas pipeline.
“As much as I loved how Last Breath captured the sense of tension and horror of being trapped under the sea, it struggles somewhat with character development.”
With a solid concept under its belt, Last Breath excels in its attention to detail, particularly in depicting the technical aspects of saturation diving—a profession that looks truly terrifying. Parkinson, who previously co-directed a 2019 documentary on the same incident, brings authenticity to the proceedings, making the underwater sequences feel claustrophobic and genuinely perilous, all the while unbelievable in a hauntingly realistic way.
As much as I loved how Last Breath captured the sense of tension and horror of being trapped under the sea, it struggles somewhat with character development. The three divers fall into familiar archetypes: the rookie, the crusty elder and the by-the-book virtuoso. Morag is also woefully underutilized and never evolves beyond the worried girlfriend waiting at home—something I feel we have moved past, given the many options available for the character.
Despite only having limited writing to work with, the cast delivers solid performances that elevate the material. Harrelson is especially affecting as Allcock, bringing warmth and humanity to a character who cares deeply for his men while facing the end of his career.
Harrelson appears to be having a great time; perhaps only Woody could star in an action film while remaining largely immobile for its entirety, yet manage to bring a sense of fun to what could otherwise be a procedural slog.
Liu handles his more reserved character with quiet intensity, particularly during the rescue sequences—something that feels refreshing and a departure from his typical lighthearted roles. Cole effectively conveys both Lemons’ initial confidence and later desperation.
Technically, Last Breath is impressive, especially considering the challenges of underwater filming. The sequences beneath the waves are appropriately murky and disorienting, enhancing the sense of isolation and danger. Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score effectively builds tension, fitting the highs and lows of the story to heighten the emotional impact of key scenes.
At a tight 93 minutes, the film occasionally feels padded with exposition, particularly in its opening and closing sequences. The meat of the story—the accident and rescue attempt—is where Last Breath truly shines, creating genuine suspense even for viewers familiar with the outcome.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Last Breath is that it is based on a true story. Chris Lemons actually survived for approximately 30 minutes with only five minutes of emergency oxygen—a medical mystery attributed partly to the cold water and the specialized gas mixture he was breathing.
“Last Breath isn’t groundbreaking cinema, but it is a solid, well-crafted thriller that knows how to build and maintain suspense.”
This knowledge adds an extra layer of tension to the viewing experience. As one reviewer notes, the film is “helped by the knowledge that everything you’re seeing actually happened, and the inherent fascination from watching people work terrible, impossible jobs.”
The film follows in the tradition of survival thrillers like Apollo 13 and Touching the Void, chronicling a desperate rescue attempt with attention to procedural detail. However, Last Breath takes an unexpected turn in its final act, elevating it beyond a simple survival tale to something more poignant—a meditation on the fragility of life and the risks taken by those who work in extreme environments.
Last Breath isn’t groundbreaking cinema, but it is a solid, well-crafted thriller that knows how to build and maintain suspense. It trusts its extraordinary true story to captivate viewers without resorting to unnecessary embellishments or over-dramatization.
Last Breath succeeds largely because of what it is about—the fascinating and dangerous world of saturation diving—and the capable direction and performances that bring this world to life. While it occasionally falls into genre clichés and struggles with character development, its strengths ultimately outweigh its weaknesses.
For those seeking a tense, realistic survival thriller that highlights human endurance in the face of seemingly impossible odds, Last Breath delivers. It is a reminder of the thin line between life and death and the extraordinary circumstances under which the human spirit can prevail.