‘Last Breath’ Review: Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu in a True-Life Undersea Rescue Thriller That Takes You Down and Lifts You Up

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In the realm of true-life dramas that leave you spellbound, none quite compare to the masterful storytelling of Ron Howard’s “Apollo 13.” However, “Last Breath,” a gripping undersea suspense thriller, stands tall among its peers. This film is inspired by a saturation diving incident that unfolded off the Scottish coast in 2012. It’s a story that delves deep into life-threatening situations, acts of extraordinary bravery, and the gut-wrenching fear that comes with being ensnared in the icy darkness 300 feet beneath the ocean surface.

As I observed it, my mind often wandered to the idea that if this were a fictional production from Hollywood, it would undeniably require an antagonist – perhaps a saboteur or even a captain obsessed with corporate gains at the expense of human lives. However, “Last Breath” lacks such elements. The film is succinct, clocking in at just 93 minutes, and its narrative remains focused on the core predicament throughout. This tight focus is what makes it impactful (and yet, in a way, slightly restrictive). The movie refrains from sensationalizing the events depicted, instead maintaining a raw, authentic feel that mirrors the real-life situation it portrays.

The movie is derived from a 2019 British documentary titled “Last Breath,” which Alex Parkinson, a notable nonfiction director, helped co-direct. This marks his first dramatic feature film as a director. His background in documentaries shines through, lending the film an authentic, factual tension. The initial scenes plunge us into the intricate machinery of what it means to be a saturation diver – a profession where you stay submerged for such a long time that your body tissues adjust to the pressure of the breathing gas. This delicate balance necessitates a prolonged decompression period (spanning days or even weeks). To put it simply, as the movie does in its opening credits, saturation diving is one of the riskiest jobs on earth.

The movie “Last Breath” focuses on a trio of divers who are tasked with swapping a segment of pipeline that carries gas across the floor of the North Sea. The film’s environments appear authentic rather than staged, giving us the impression of observing genuine equipment, expansive video monitors, and a diving bell – the vessel transporting them below, which has a bean-shaped submarine appearance made from Jiffy Pop aluminum foil. Inside, there are multiple sections accommodating teams of divers.

The film “Last Breath” revolves around three divers who work together to replace a pipeline section in the North Sea. The film’s environments seem real instead of artificial, making us feel like we’re witnessing actual machinery, large video monitors, and a diving bell – the submergence vehicle that takes them under, resembling a bean-shaped submarine constructed from Jiffy Pop foil. Inside, there are several areas designed for teams of divers.)

The movie starts with us being introduced to Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), a Scottish guy with curly hair, who is saying goodbye to his worried fiancée Hanna (MyAnna Buring). Upon reaching base camp, he reunites with Duncan Allcock, an experienced diver he has worked with on multiple missions. As soon as we spot Woody Harrelson, with his mischievous grin and saintly temper, it feels like this scene is a highly detailed theatrical portrayal. However, the characters are not deeply developed, only what they show us is revealed.

Duncan jokes about being the elderly member of the group, but it’s more like they’re planning to retire him from work. This is his last job, he admits. Chris, on the other hand, is deeply devoted to Hanna at home, which is a significant aspect of his character. And there’s David Yuasa, portrayed by Simu Liu, who became famous with Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” He’s not talkative, often coming off as gruff, but Liu’s charm makes it clear that David, a father of two young girls, isn’t a bad person. He simply doesn’t appreciate forced camaraderie.

Down below, Duncan stays inside the bell, while Chris and David, equipped with scuba gear and metallic helmets adorned with spikes, exit through a hole in the floor and descend to the ocean floor. There, they find a sturdy grate called the manifold, which they can grip onto. Their task is typically routine, but today there’s an unusual factor: The massive support ship that holds the diving bell is being tossed about violently by a fierce storm at sea. Duncan, with his extensive experience, can estimate the height of the waves just by looking at the water level inside the bell pod.

As a film enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: While I was working in the underwater scene, a sudden current swept me away from my designated area. The vibrant umbilical cord connecting us to the surface, Chris’s lifeline, unexpectedly broke. This line was crucial, as it supplied the heliox that we were breathing. With just 10 minutes of backup oxygen in his canister, Chris found himself drifting into the ominous depths of the dark water.

Beginning from that instant, the incident unfolds in real-time for a span of 40 minutes. Chris eventually reaches the manifold, but his fuel has depleted. Stranded there, he lies in his helmet with no oxygen supply. The clock is ticking (5 minutes without air; now 15 minutes…), while the narrative switches to the frenzied efforts from above. To find Chris, the entire damaged system aboard the mother ship needs to be powered down and restarted, a task performed in one of those tense scenes filled with wires. At a crucial juncture, the captain (Cliff Curtis) must weigh the possibility of causing an environmental catastrophe against saving just one man (his decision: to not take that risk).

Although I won’t disclose the outcome, it’s worth noting that stories similar to this one often don’t receive a big-screen adaptation if they conclude tragically. There’s a scene where we find ourselves gripped by dread, and when things subtly change, it creates an unexpected uplift among viewers. “Last Breath” portrays each event with such precision that it feels like a cinematic news report. However, it leaves you with a faint sense of the eerie or strange.

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2025-02-27 04:17