Drowning is a common fear among large swathes of the population. The sea is a cruel mistress, and cinema has been traditionally very strong on helping crystallize that fear for audiences. However, the idea of being stranded in the darkness of the ocean floor, running out of oxygen is perhaps a whole other level of terror that the film Last Breath skilfully unlocks while also tugging on the heart strings of the audience in spectacular fashion. 

Last Breath is based on the story of Chris Lemons, a diver working on the North Sea pipeline who became stranded away from his colleagues on a routine repair mission in a freak accident during an unexpected storm which causes all manner of technical issues. As he runs out of oxygen, his colleagues scramble above and below the water to rescue their fallen friend before he succumbs to oxygen deprivation. 

On paper, building tension through procedure shouldn't be the most effective way to hook an audience into the idea of impending doom. However, there's something very economical about displaying all the aspects of safety protocols and technical checks in the build up to a dive to the bottom of the sea that works really well. It's thoroughly anxiety inducing simply because it suggests that despite those precautions, something is about to go awry and of course in Last Breath it does. With the film being based on a documentary of the same name, it's no surprise that it feels authentic from the off, and use of those safety mechanisms provides an excellent setup for some streamlined storytelling and foreshadowing of how events may unfold. 

Last Breath operates with quite a small cast, but there's some massive performances that really ramp up the edge-of-the-seat nature of proceedings. Finn Cole is very solid and sympathetic as Chris, and his scenes in the water are genuinely affecting. Simu Liu is excellent as Dave, the ultimate professional and legendary diver, while Woody Harrelson plays Woody Harrelson, even if not in name specifically. That sounds like a negative, it truly isn't, he provides a warmth and familiarity that anchors the whole plot (pun intended). The chemistry between all three is superb, and it makes a film that largely occurs within a confined space feel all the more claustrophobic. 

If there is a flaw with Last Breath, it's that the film feels a little hamstrung by the true nature of the tale behind it. It's an incredible story, but it could possibly have done with a few more creative twists and turns, but equally with the stakes so high perhaps that would have trivialized the situation and the sheer complexity of the rescue attempt. 

Last Breath is a magnificent feat of filmmaking. It feels weighty, and real, while also creating a sense of tension and anxiety that could so easily have seemed throwaway and glossy if filmed in a more “Hollywood” style. It's understated but still seems huge, nuanced and scary and simultaneously utterly gripping from start to finish. A thrilling experience that may well leave you feeling breathless, although not as badly as if you were helpless in the bleak darkness of the North Sea. 

Last Breath is released in cinemas nationwide on 14 March 2025

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