'Last Breath' review: Harrowing true story gets watered down
Courtesy of Focus Features
An improbable fight for survival gets the cinematic treatment in Alex Parkinson’s serviceable “Last Breath”, a formulaic “based on a true story” film that was first captured in a 2019 documentary, also directed by Parkinson. The story at the heart of this adaptation is undeniably gripping. It dramatizes the harrowing tale of deep-sea diver Chris Lemons, who, in 2012, defied insurmountable odds and lived to see another day after a routine operation goes horribly wrong, leaving him stranded in the pitch-black depths of the ocean without oxygen for nearly 30 minutes. It’s a remarkable true story, yet, despite the compelling source material, the film struggles to generate the emotional weight the real-life event deserves. And running a slim 93 minutes, “Last Breath” feels rushed, stripping the narrative of its emotional core and leaving the audience with little more than a bare-bones thriller, where the outcome is as inevitable as it is underwhelming.
Finn Cole (“Dreamland”) plays Chris Lemons, and rightly so, his character is the most humanized of the main trio. Lemons is a seasoned diver, about to embark on another routine operation in the North Sea, just off the coast of the United Kingdom. Joining him are his longtime dive partner, Duncan Allcock (Woody Harrelson), and newcomer Dave Yuasa (Simu Liu), who eventually takes command of the rescue operation. In the early moments before disaster strikes, one would expect Mitchell LaFortune, David Brooks, and Parkinson’s screenplay to establish a sense of camaraderie among this trio—after all, they’ll be living and working together for the next 28 days. Instead, we get little more than a surface-level introduction. Lemons is engaged to be married, and while this detail briefly hints at his personal life, it doesn't go much further. Dave and Duncan remain relatively underdeveloped, with Duncan being the only character with any significant backstory—he’s a veteran diver being forced to retire.
This lack of depth in the characters creates a considerable emotional distance, and when the crew is thrown into chaos by a violent storm that disrupts their operation, the stakes feel muted. Lemons is left stranded on the ocean floor, disconnected from his team and spiraling into the abyss with minimal oxygen, yet the emotional gravity of this dire situation is largely absent. While we naturally root for Dave and Duncan to rescue their colleague, their lack of chemistry, particularly between Harrelson and Liu, leaves the audience uninvested in their plight. The film, unfortunately, becomes a series of mechanical events rather than a tense survival thriller.
Despite these shortcomings, it’s no surprise that the underwater photography is solid considering Parkinson’s background in this area. Having already explored this narrative ala his 2019 documentary, he brings a sense of authenticity and visual grandeur to the film’s underwater sequences. The cinematography captures the vast, suffocating isolation of the ocean depths, which only serves to heighten the peril of Lemons’ situation. The rescue sequences are tense and urgently paced, aided by Paul Leonard-Morgan’s pulsating score, which intensifies the suspense and helps maintain engagement, even when the emotional stakes are lacking.
Ultimately, “Last Breath” is a film that struggles to transcend its formulaic approach to storytelling. The true story it’s based on is a wild tale of survival, but the film fails to fully capitalize on the emotional depth and human drama inherent in such a remarkable ordeal. While the underwater cinematography and rescue sequences will keep audiences passively intrigued, the film's underdeveloped characters, tepid performances, and lack of real emotional investment leave it grasping for straws.
Grade: C
LAST BREATH is now playing in theaters.
Comments