Last Breath
February 27th, 2025
MOVIE: LAST BREATH
STARRING: WOODY HARRELSON, SIMU LIU, FINN COLE, CLIFF CURTIS
DIRECTED BY: ALEX PARKINSON
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 93 MINUTES
If you’re a reader of AMovieGuy.com, you may be familiar with the paradox I coined: the “Gravity Paradox,” which explores the tension between artistry and the commercial nature of cinema. When Alfonso Cuarón directed Gravity, he and his casting director faced a dilemma: cast two major stars, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, to bring financial appeal, or cast two unknown actors to lend the film more authenticity. Cuarón chose the two Oscar winners, which undoubtedly helped the film’s box office, but Gravity might have benefited from a story about two unknowns floating in space. That same sentiment applies to Alex Parkinson’s Last Breath, which finds a middle ground. The film features a trio of actors who may not be major box-office draws but still manage to tell a heroic and gripping story worthy of the big screen.
Parkinson had already explored this subject in his 2019 documentary Last Breath, which told the unbelievable true story of a group of deep-sea divers who repair oil and gas pipelines under the North Sea, and the harrowing rescue mission for one diver left stranded with only five minutes of oxygen remaining. In this narrative feature, Parkinson excels at true, nuts-and-bolts filmmaking. He effectively establishes the setting with wide shots of the docks, tight close-ups of the internal workings of the ships, and the vast crewmembers preparing for their deep dive into the unknown.
The main character is Chris (Finn Cole), the relatively inexperienced diver of the group, alongside the determined Dave Yausa (Simu Liu) and the seasoned veteran Duncan Allock (Woody Harrelson). The screenplay, written by Parkinson, Mitchell LaFortune, and David Brooks, sets up the mission with subtle cues—Chris hanging a picture of his wife Morag (Bobby Rainsbury) to give him a personal reason to survive. At the same time, we learn that this is Duncan’s last dive. The film truly shines when the mission begins, with heavy tether cords running into the water as Chris and Dave descend, knowing that diving in these depths always carries the risk of tragedy, no matter how carefully things are planned.
The underwater action is intense and feels incredibly authentic. When the mission goes wrong, Parkinson skillfully starts the clock. He portrays the manipulation of time in an accurate and gripping way—one minute feels like hours underwater, while the crew members above the surface race against time to save Chris. Cliff Curtis plays the ship captain guiding the rescue process, while we watch Chris underwater, struggling with dwindling oxygen and hoping for a miracle.
Last Breath isn’t necessarily a must-see film, but it does everything it sets out to do with precision. It’s a taut, suspenseful story that builds to moments of sheer stress and terror. The film makes you feel the weight of the characters’ decisions and immerses you in their life-or-death struggle. Parkinson strikes a fine balance between authenticity and cinematic storytelling, making a film that feels both independent and significant. Ultimately, Last Breath keeps your heart racing, and at times, it takes your breath away.
3 STARS
LAST BREATH IS PLAYING IN THEATERS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
