Last Breath
Last Breath (2025) is a tense deep-sea survival thriller directed by Alex Parkinson. Inspired by the real-life ordeal of diver Chris Lemons, the film follows his terrifying struggle for survival when a technical failure leaves him stranded 100 meters underwater with only minutes of emergency oxygen. Featuring performances by Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, and Finn Cole, the film delivers gripping tension, immersive cinematography, and a race-against-time narrative. While it succeeds in creating a claustrophobic and suspenseful atmosphere, some critics noted its underdeveloped character arcs and predictable emotional beats.
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Last Breath is a harrowing tale of human endurance and survival, dramatizing the real-life crisis faced by deep-sea diver Chris Lemons. The film wastes no time in building suspense, quickly placing its protagonist in a dire situation where every passing second counts. The use of sound design—particularly the eerie silence of the deep and distorted communications—adds to the film’s suffocating tension.
Critics have praised its cinematography and attention to technical detail, particularly in its realistic portrayal of saturation diving. The underwater sequences are chillingly immersive, making the audience feel the isolation and helplessness of being trapped beneath the ocean. The film employs real-time storytelling elements, such as on-screen timers, to heighten the sense of urgency.
However, while Last Breath excels in its visual and technical execution, its character development falls somewhat short. The three central figures—the rookie diver (Finn Cole), the veteran near retirement (Woody Harrelson), and the experienced but emotionally distant officer (Simu Liu)—lean on familiar archetypes, missing deeper emotional complexity. Some critics also felt that certain dramatic moments leaned too heavily into sentimentality rather than raw realism.
Despite these minor flaws, Last Breath remains an engaging survival thriller, keeping audiences on edge from start to finish. The performances, particularly Harrelson’s, help elevate the material, making the film a worthy adaptation of an extraordinary true story.
Rating:
- Tension & Suspense: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
- Cinematography & Visuals: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
- Acting & Character Development: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.5/5)
- Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.7/5)
For fans of survival thrillers like Gravity and 127 Hours, Last Breath offers a gripping, anxiety-inducing experience that lingers after the credits roll
