The ocean doesn’t care if you live or die, and Last Breath makes sure you feel that truth in every heart-pounding minute. This survival story is a claustrophobic descent into the world of deep-sea saturation divers. It’s a kind of danger most people will never witness. But from the very first scenes, the film makes one thing clear: this isn’t just inspired by real events; it’s a true, terrifying story.
Woody Harrelson plays a seasoned diver named Duncan on his last mission before forced retirement. Alongside Simu Liu as Dave and Finn Cole as Chris, they dive 300 feet into the North Sea to repair a pipeline when the unthinkable happens—one of their own is stranded on the ocean floor with only minutes of oxygen left.
The sheer helplessness of Chris being stranded in a place where humans aren’t meant to survive echoes the isolation of Gravity and The Martian. The film also serves as a stark reminder, much like The Perfect Storm, that when nature takes control, survival isn’t a guarantee and rescue is never a sure thing.
Harrelson and Liu anchor the film with a commanding presence, leading the desperate, improvised mission to save their stranded comrade. Their struggles are similar to the high-stakes Coast Guard rescues in The Guardian and like the mission in Saving Private Ryan, where a team is willing to sacrifice everything to bring someone home.
While Last Breath is gripping, it isn’t perfect. Some of the dialogue, particularly Chris’s emotional backstory, feels heavy-handed. Also, the supporting characters are more functional than fully developed, making it harder to connect with the crew beyond the core trio. But when it comes to pure tension, Last Breath is a nerve-wracking descent into life-and-death terror that will keep you holding your breath in anticipation.
RHFC Rating: 8/10 🍿
