The movie "Last Breath" proves to be a stark contrast to the traditional, villain-driven Hollywood narrative. Based on a real-life saturation-diving accident that occurred off the Scottish coast in 2012, this undersea suspense thriller sheds melodrama to deliver a taut, authentic experience. The film thrives on its raw depiction of life-and-death scenarios, heroism, and the pure terror of entrapment 300 feet under frigid dark waters.
The realism of "Last Breath" stemmed from a 2019 British documentary, also entitled "Last Breath", by director Alex Parkinson. His first big-screen directorial venture, Parkinson successfully intertwines his documentary roots into the film - sticking to facts instead of hyped drama.
"Last Breath" revolves around the lives of three divers assigned to replace a pipeline on the North Sea floor. The film's authenticity shines through its sets - featuring what seems like actual machinery, video monitors, and diving bells, it engrosses viewers with the immediacy of reality.
The movie introduces us to Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), a Scottish diver leaving his worried fiancée Morag (Bobby Rainsbury) at home, reuniting with his experienced diving mate, Duncan Allcock. We are drawn into this world, accepting these characters' lives without extended backstories.
Duncan, the seasoned diver planning his last dive, and David Yuasa, a reserved father of two played by Simu Liu of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" fame, accompany Chris. What is expected to be routine work in the depths of the ocean turns treacherous when a vicious storm hits the surface. Consequently, Chris's life-supporting umbilical cord snaps, leaving him with a mere ten-minute supply of breathing gas.
The accident which ensues escalates over 40 minutes, portrayed in real-time in the film. Stranded without oxygen on the ocean floor, Chris’s survival is left to the frantic efforts of his colleagues above. They decide between potentially triggering an ecological catastrophe or risking one man's life.
We won’t spoil the ending, but “Last Breath” provides a deeply immersive and realistic look into a high-stakes battle for survival. The film relies heavily on precise detailing, making it akin to cinematic journalism, and it creates an uncanny but uniquely captivating viewer experience.
