Last Breath: Alex Parkinson’s surprisingly effective thriller will make you hold your breath

Last Breath is true to its name.

Based on a true story, Last Breath tells the story of three deep-sea divers, Chris Lemons, Duncan Allcock and David Yuasa (Finn Cole, Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu) as they work hard to fix an underwater station hundreds of feet below sea level. However, after raging elements disrupt their dive, the men find themselves trapped under the waves as  a crewmate fights for their life in the waters below.

Directed by Alex Parkinson, Last Breath is an immersive (submersive?) thriller that never sinks. Tightly written and executed, this is the sort of old school ride that genuinely keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat throughout most of its runtime while still caring about its characters. (What’s more, with a surprisingly brief runtime of roughly 90 minutes, Last Breath never wears out its welcome either.) In an effort to build tension, Parkinson keeps our visibility low. Lit at times only by the light of a flashlight or flare, the film emphasizes the fact that, even in a massive ocean, the next step is the one that matters. As a result, every scene under the sea feels claustrophobic and infused with tension. We need these films to feel unpredictable and, amazingly, Last Breath manages to do so.

Strangely, the film almost feels like a distant cousin to Tom Hanks’ classic space thriller, Apollo 13. Another film based on a true story, what genuinely makes 13 work is the way that the film keeps the relationship between the crew in space and the team on the ground in check. Similarly, Last Breath takes the same approach. Despite the horrors of being trapped in the ocean, we also spent a great deal of time with the crew above the waters as well. This gives the film a genuine ‘team’ approach, despite the fact that its biggest stars remain below the savage seas.

In this way, the film doesn’t necessarily rest on the performance of one person. Although Liu and Harrelson do a fine job in their respective roles, the film keeps its characters in relative balance. Moreover, the film actually allows its characters to be at risk. (And, frankly, this is a feat that other films of this nature don’t always do effectively.) 

But that’s also what makes the film work. Last Breath isn’t a film with any particular grand ideas to share. Instead, its execution is focused entirely on the realities of its characters, especially that of Cole’s Chris Lemons. Without giving spoilers, we genuinely care about the lives of (most of) these men and women. We hear Duncan’s anxiety over life after the pod. Liu’s bravery almost comes into conflict with his love for his children. Chris and his wife fear the risks that are taken every time they go under. Their lives are the work. Yet, for Chris at least, his life is more than the work.

But that, somehow, makes the work more harrowing. 

Even so, Last Breath resists the urge to turn these characters into superheroes. Their story is wild, yes. But they are ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. We feel the preciousness of their lives. And these men and women do as well do as well. (For instance, use of their missing crewmates name rather than ‘Diver 2’ shows their personal investment in their well-being.) Their hard work is simply out of care for one another.

That matters.

Although Last Breath feels like a quiet release, this effective and enjoyable thriller was also a genuine surprise. This is the sort of film that gains credibility because it’s based on a true story, rather than simply using it as a gimmick. Without giving spoilers, the absolutely most unbelievable parts of this story are also the most true. (At least, according to the film’s final title cards.) It’s original, intense and genuinely entertaining.

Just take a deep breath first.

Last Breath is available in theatres on Friday, February 28^th, 2025.