Last Breath
U.S.A./U.K. 2025

Opening 8 May 2025

Directed by: Alex Parkinson
Writing credits: Mitchell LaFortune, Alex Parkinson, David Brooks
Principal actors: Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, Cliff Curtis, Mark Bonnar

Based on the survival ordeal of deep-sea divers and host ship in 2005 off Scotland’s coast, Last Breath is not to be confused with director Alex Parkinson’s eponymous 2019 Netflix documentary. Parkinson’s gut-wrenching, heart-stopping drama, with Mitchell LaFortune and David Brooks’ screenplay, is a reminder of humans’ propensity to survive, and the death-defying power of teamwork. Before the introduction/title sequence the main protagonist Chris Lemons (Finn Cole) and fiancé Morag (Bobby Rainsbury) are introduced, inserting one human-interest angle. Other angles are DSV (dive support vessel) crewmembers’ comradery, as well as saturation divers and their support team. Heading into the North Sea and rough weather, onboard the DSV three diving groups of three will work on undersea gas lines maintenance for the next four weeks.

The saturation divers—a technique whereby divers, living in pressurized chambers onboard, only go through decompression once at the end of rotation—settle in. Team A’s principal is Duncan Allock (Woody Harrelson) with Dave Yuasa (Simu Liu) and Chris Lemons. Subsequently, Dive Supervisor Craig (Mark Bonnar) announces “eyes on” to Team A, giving them one hour to suit up. Dave and Chris are working at 300 feet (ninety meters) as Duncan monitors from inside the specialized diving bell (enclosure for lowering divers into the sea) when the Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) onboard malfunctions; the vessel starts drifting. Ideals/solutions are rapidly brainstormed on the bridge; one of the diver’s umbilical cables snaps—he has ten minutes of bailout oxygen. DSV Captain Andre Jenson (Cliff Curtis) challenges Mike (Josef Altin), the dynamic positioning operator (DPO), to find a work around. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) pilot (Connor Reed) hesitates. Jenson and First Officer Hanna (MyAnna Buring) have their work cut out for them.

The nail-biting suspense and tension does not let up. Collectively, we hold our breaths. The seasoned cast deliver. Production values excel: Nick Remy Matthews cinematography, Ian Seabrook underwater cinematography, Tania Goding’s precision editing, Archie Lamont sound, and Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score that vies, at the wrong times, with awesome sound design. As the captain issues orders, we watch them being followed in real time. Last Breath is a thrilling adventure few will otherwise experience in their lifetimes. Before docking, we are treated to the real-life survivors’ epilogue. (Marinell Haegelin)