Tension Runs Deep in Last Breath

Release Date：Feb/28/2025

Genre：Sea Adventure/Drama/Thriller

Director：Alex Parkinson

Cast：Woody Harrelson、Simu Liu、Finn Cole、Cliff Curtis、Mark Bonnar、MyAnna Buring

Viola's Rating：7.4

British documentary and TV series director Alex Parkinson’s first feature film, Last Breath, premiered in the US on February 28, 2025. It was critically acclaimed and was selected as one of the Truly Moving Picture Award winners by Heartland Film.

Based on a serious saturation diving accident in 2012, this dramatic sea adventure thriller is a remake of Parkinson’s own 2019 documentary, which he co-directed with Richard da Costa. The plot follows three experienced deep-sea divers, as Dave Yuasa (Simu Liu) and Duncan Allock (Woody Harrelson) battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate, Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), who is trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface.

One of Last Breath’s most striking features is its use of surveillance-style footage, immersing the audience in the action as though they were watching events unfold alongside the ship’s crew. Whether it’s the dive supervisor monitoring the situation from the bridge, overseeing the pressurized living quarters—known as “the tin”— and the diving bell or scanning the manifold through a remotely operated vehicle, the ultra-realistic cinematography makes the flick feel like an episode of Discovery Channel or National Geographic.

Beyond its exciting realism, Last Breath benefits from the filmmakers’ deep understanding of the true story. With their documentary background, the crew brings the intricate details of saturation diving to the big screen. From the process of pressurization and gear checks to the careful steps of gearing up and decompression, even those unfamiliar with saturation diving will walk away with a newfound appreciation for the profession.

Since Last Breath recounts a real-life miracle, it powerfully showcases the unwavering determination of the crew to save Chris. Much like Saving Private Ryan, where every soldier’s life is worth saving despite the horrors of war, this motion picture emphasizes the value of human life—even in the face of the brutal conditions of the North Sea. At one point, the crew fears their mission has shifted from rescue to body recovery, yet they refuse to give up hope. In the end, humanity prevails, and Chris' miraculous survival has led some to jokingly say he “cheated death” in the unforgiving North Sea.

While Last Breath’s intense score effectively heightens the tension, its rapid pacing leaves little room for character development. The fast-moving events prevent moviegoers from fully connecting with the characters on an emotional level.

Ultimately, Last Breath may not leave the audience in awe of nature’s power or move them to tears, but it remains an exhilarating, well-crafted thriller that is absolutely worth watching.

Picture Credit: IMDb