By Keith Walther | RLGR
Resurfacing too quickly from a deep dive may cause what is commonly referred to as the bends. Leaving “Last Breath” too early could have a similar effect, because the pressure buildup of this film will leave you feeling like you’re with these divers in a metal tin can with the weight of the ocean threatening to crush from all sides. Based on the incredible true story and documentary of the same name by the same director, this is one you won’t want to miss.
On the bottom of the ocean floor in the North Sea lies thousands of miles of pipelines supplying natural gas throughout Europe. Sometimes, these pipes require maintenance to keep that gas flowing, which is where deep-sea divers are needed. Duncan Allock (Woody Harrelson), Dave Yuasa (Simu Liu), and Chris Lemons (Finn Cole) are three such divers, and their jobs are among the most dangerous in the world. This ill-fated excursion proves exactly why it can be so dangerous.
The North Sea is not an easy place to traverse with violent storms occurring on a frequent basis, but the show must go on for Duncan, Dave, and Chris, who are deposited hundreds of feet below the surface to fix a stretch of pipeline. When a freakish storm takes out the ship’s electronic systems, the three divers immediately find themselves in a fight for survival. For one diver, his fight becomes more dire as his oxygen lifeline is severed, creating an impossible race against time for the ship to get back online and help the other two divers retrieve their fallen comrade.
For director Alex Parkinson, this true story has been a passion project, initially creating this as a documentary feature in 2019 that was well received. In order to reach a wider audience, he created this motion picture reenactment of this amazing story. Using his experience on the documentary, Parkinson is able to craft this film with a strong commitment to accuracy, focusing on the smallest of details to ensure the truth is well conveyed. This lends a significant amount of integrity to this story’s retelling, which helps the audience accept some of the more unbelievable elements that accentuate the incredibility of what occurred. He even uses actual footage from the real 2012 incident. However, his almost clinical meticulousness does somewhat detract from the emotional impact.
Once these divers are in the water with a storm ravaging the ship on the surface, the tension is immediately palpable. Parkinson harnesses the gripping suspense with tight underwater camera shots that capture the claustrophobic sensation of being at the bottom of the ocean, which isn’t too dissimilar from outer space. The limited visibility heightens the sense of panic, and Parkinson unmercifully squeezes the audience further by consistently showing the passage of time. Viewers feel every passing minute, gripping their armrests tighter and tighter as rescuing these divers alive becomes less and less likely.
While the acting won’t win any major awards, it was a professional effort from the entire cast. Anchored by Woody Harrelson, who provides that trademark Texan charisma, there’s an easy camaraderie that permeates among the main players. Woody alone relieves some of that taut tension with his natural comic relief. Simu Liu, who played the title role in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” brings a more serious demeanor to this role, adding an aura of unquestionable expertise with some unapproachability. It’s the young English actor, Finn Cole, who gets the opportunity to provide more meaningful depth to his character, however. He succeeds, for the most part, portraying a loving fiancé who has his whole life ahead of him with a lot more to lose, which connects on an emotional level with the audience.
Being trapped almost a thousand feet below the surface of the ocean in ice cold temperatures, surrounded by the inky blackness of the deep with only a ten-minute supply of oxygen is the terror inducing scenario this film will make you feel every minute of until its shocking conclusion, unless you’re already familiar with the outcome of this true story. “Last Breath” is suspenseful, informative, entertaining, and remarkable. It’s a cinematic experience best felt on the big screen and well worth the price of a ticket.
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