I’ve always admired Woody Harrelson’s ability to bring grit and heart to his roles, so I was immediately curious about Last Breath, a survival thriller that plunges into the dangerous world of commercial diving. The premise is simple but powerful: a diver stranded deep underwater with only minutes of oxygen left, and the desperate rescue attempt that follows.
Director Alex Parkinson creates a suffocating atmosphere from the start. The film captures the eerie quiet of the ocean depths, punctuated by the hiss of oxygen and the unsettling creaks of metal under pressure. The cinematography is striking—every shot underscores the isolation and peril of being trapped where survival hinges on seconds. The sound design also deserves praise, immersing the audience in both the beauty and the terror of the deep sea.
Harrelson anchors the film with a steady, grounded performance. Even when the script doesn’t fully flesh out the supporting cast, he carries the emotional weight of the story. His quiet intensity keeps the tension alive, and it’s easy to root for him even when the film slips into predictable beats.
That’s where Last Breath stumbles. While it’s undeniably gripping, the pacing sometimes lags, especially when the focus shifts away from the diver’s immediate crisis. Some characters feel underdeveloped, leaving the emotional stakes weaker than they could have been. And for those familiar with the documentary that inspired this dramatization, the film may feel a little too familiar, lacking the creative spark to fully separate itself.
Still, the film succeeds as a survival thriller. It’s suspenseful, technically sharp, and unrelenting in its depiction of perilous work beneath the waves. It may not be groundbreaking, but it holds your attention until the very last breath.