Nerdly » ‘Last Breath’ DVD Review

29th May2025

‘Last Breath’ DVD Review

by Kevin Haldon

Stars: Finn Cole, Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Cliff Curtis, Mark Bonnar, MyAnna Buring | Written by Alex Parkinson, Mitchell LaFortune, David Brooks | Directed by Alex Parkinson

Directed by Alex Parkinson, Last Breath is a big-screen adaptation of his 2019 documentary of the same name, retelling the harrowing true story of Chris Lemons, a deep-sea (saturation) diver who survived an unbelievable 29 minutes without oxygen 300 feet beneath the North Sea in 2012. Starring Finn Cole as Lemons, Woody Harrelson as veteran diver Duncan Allcock, and Simu Liu as the stoic Dave Yuasa, this survival thriller aims to plunge audiences into the claustrophobic, high-stakes world of deep-sea diving.

The film’s premise is as straightforward as it is terrifying. During a seemingly routine maintenance operation on a North Sea gas pipeline, a hefty storm causes a catastrophic failure in the vessel’s Dynamic Positioning System (DPS), which causes the ship to drift, dragging the diving bell and severing Chris Lemons’ umbilical lifeline. Left with only a 10-minute emergency oxygen supply and no immediate rescue in sight, Chris faces certain death as his crewmates, Duncan, stationed in the bell, and Dave, working alongside him on the seabed, race against time and nature’s unforgiving elements to save him. The story unfolds over a nerve-racking 93 minutes, focusing almost exclusively on the incident and its aftermath. Can they save their man? Should they even try?

Parkinson, alongside co-writers Mitchell LaFortune and David Brooks, opts for a fairly no-frills narrative that feels at times like the documentary style of the original project. We are immersed in the finer points of saturation diving, pressurised chambers, gas mixtures, and the mass of umbilical cords that tether divers to life. This commitment to authenticity is both a strength and, at times, a limitation. On one hand, it lends the film a gritty, almost journalistic credibility; on the other, it can feel cold and devoid of any real character development or emotional stakes. The result is a thriller that keeps you on edge but rarely invites you to care too deeply about the men beyond their immediate peril.

The ensemble cast is the standout, even if the script doesn’t fully capitalise on their potential. Finn Cole brings a youthful earnestness to Chris Lemons, effectively conveying the rookie diver’s quiet determination and, later, his silent desperation as he floats alone in the abyss. His performance is most compelling in the underwater sequences, where his expressive eyes (framed by the diver’s helmet) communicate a raw, primal fear.

Woody Harrelson, as Duncan Allcock, injects the film with an old-timey, weathered charm that feels distinctly his own. Stationed primarily in the diving bell, Harrelson’s Duncan is the emotional anchor of the trio, his gruff exterior masking a deep sense of responsibility. His scenes of quiet frustration and eventual relief are among the film’s most human moments. Simu Liu, as Dave Yuasa, delivers a low key very competent performance that contrasts nicely with Harrelson’s warmth. Liu’s stoicism grounds the rescue effort, and his subtle shift to urgency as the situation deteriorates is a testament to his range; however, like Cole, he’s underused by a script that prioritises action over introspection.

Supporting players, including the ever-dependable Cliff Curtis as the ship’s captain and Mark Bonnar as the dive supervisor, add texture to the above-water chaos. Ultimately, the cast’s talent elevates the material by filling in the blanks and making us care after the short time we have known the men.

Where Last Breath truly shines is in its technical craftsmanship. Parkinson’s documentary background boasts a visual and audio experience that feels both authentic, suffocatingly dire and immersive. Cinematographer Ben Cox captures the stark contrast between the claustrophobic diving bell and the vast, inky blackness of the North Sea, using handheld camerawork and surveillance-style footage to blur the line between fiction and reality. The underwater sequences are dark, disorienting, and unrelentingly tense; they evoke a dread that lingers long after the credits roll. The integration of real machinery and practical effects further enhances the film, making every creak of the bell and hiss of gas palpable.

Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score is another highlight, swelling with an intensity that mirrors the rising stakes. Unlike many thrillers these days that lean on silence for effect, Last Breath uses music to amplify its emotional beats. The sound design muffled underwater echoes, the metallic clang of equipment, and the laboured breathing through helmets complete the sensory assault, ensuring viewers feel trapped alongside the divers.

At its core, Last Breath is a testament to human resilience and teamwork under impossible odds. The film celebrates the unsung heroes of saturation divers, whose dangerous, unglamorous work keeps the world’s energy infrastructure afloat. It also grapples with mortality in a subtle, almost philosophical way, totally unexplained by science, and hints at the mysteries of human endurance and the thin line between life and death. However, for all its tension, Last Breath lacks an emotional gut punch to make it unforgettable. The epilogue, featuring real footage of the divers, provides a satisfying conclusion, proof of the story’s miraculous truth. But it also underscores what the film misses: a deeper connection to the men behind the helmets.

Last Breath is a well-executed throwback to the rescue dramas of yesteryear, think Apollo 13 meets The Perfect Storm, with a modern coat of realism. Its runtime is tight and efficient, delivering edge-of-your-seat suspense without overstaying its welcome. For those who crave a visceral, process-oriented thriller, it’s a rewarding watch, but it does float just near the surface of its truest potential, not quite diving into the emotional or thematic depths that could have made it a classic.