Last Breath (2025) movie review: Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, and Finn Cole lead this intense survival thriller based on a true story. A chilling deep-sea rescue mission filled with suspense and emotion.
Last Breath (2025) Movie Review 🎬 | Deep-Sea Survival Thriller That Keeps You Gasping
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Introduction
What happens when you’re stranded 100 meters below the ocean with no oxygen left?
Last Breath (2025) is a gripping survival thriller directed by Alex Parkinson, based on the 2019 documentary of the same name. The film dramatizes the true story of a life-threatening deep-sea accident and the emotional, physical, and psychological toll it takes on both the victim and the team trying to save him.
Featuring a stellar cast including Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis, Last Breath dives deep — literally and emotionally — into a haunting story of resilience, fear, and teamwork.
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Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
The film follows a team of deep-sea divers operating off the coast of Scotland. During a routine maintenance dive on the ocean floor, Chris Lemons (Finn Cole) becomes stranded in complete darkness after his tether line snaps and the support vessel suffers a catastrophic failure.
With only minutes of breathable air remaining, the rest of the crew — including veteran diver Duncan Allcock (Woody Harrelson) and dive supervisor Sebastian (Simu Liu) — must overcome equipment malfunctions, hostile weather, and the limits of human endurance in an all-out race against time.
The film switches between claustrophobic underwater scenes and the tense operations above sea level, creating a dynamic that is both technically impressive and emotionally charged.
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Performances
- Finn Cole carries the emotional weight of the film with a powerful performance as Chris. His portrayal of panic, acceptance, and sheer will to survive is incredibly moving.
- Woody Harrelson brings both authority and empathy as Duncan, the seasoned diver haunted by responsibility and regret.
- Simu Liu breaks away from his Marvel image to deliver a grounded and believable performance as a dive supervisor under unimaginable pressure.
- Cliff Curtis, though in a smaller role, adds strong emotional beats and presence to the story.
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Direction & Screenplay
Director Alex Parkinson, who co-directed the original documentary, brings authenticity and realism to this dramatized version. His direction is intimate, focused, and emotionally precise.
The screenplay, co-written with Mitchell LaFortune and David Brooks, maintains a strong pace over its 93-minute runtime. It avoids overdramatization, instead letting the sheer reality of the situation deliver the tension. The characters feel real, their decisions flawed and human, which adds a layer of vulnerability often missing in survival thrillers.
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Music & Sound Design
Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score plays a crucial role in Last Breath. It’s atmospheric and restrained, often giving way to the eerie silence of the deep sea or the chilling sounds of hissing oxygen and creaking metal.
The sound design is especially impactful — it places you right inside the diving helmet, breathing with Chris, feeling every second tick away as he floats in the darkness.
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Cinematography & Visuals
Nick Remy Matthews and Ian Seabrook’s cinematography excels in two vastly different environments — the cold, metallic interior of the support ship and the ink-black, haunting expanse of the ocean floor.
The underwater sequences are both terrifying and visually stunning. The camera work makes you feel the crushing pressure of the deep sea and the terrifying sense of isolation. These visuals alone are worth the watch.
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Themes & Impact
Last Breath is not just about survival — it’s a reflection on fear, helplessness, and the fragile line between life and death. It explores the psychology of rescue workers, the emotional scars of leadership, and the strange comfort that can come from acceptance in the face of doom.
The film reminds us that heroism isn’t always dramatic — sometimes it’s in the quiet decision to keep going when every instinct says stop.
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What Works
- Tense, emotionally driven narrative 🎭
- Authentic depiction of deep-sea operations ⚙️
- Strong performances, especially Finn Cole and Harrelson 🎬
- Beautiful yet terrifying underwater cinematography 🌊
- Realistic pacing and tight runtime ⏱️
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What Doesn’t
- Limited character development for side characters
- Could feel “documentary-like” in places for those expecting action-packed thrills
- Some viewers may find the ending too subdued
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Final Verdict
Last Breath (2025) delivers an emotionally intense, technically polished, and terrifyingly real experience. It may not have blockbuster action, but its human story, superb performances, and immersive direction will leave you breathless — pun intended.
It’s a must-watch for fans of real-life thrillers, survival stories, and emotionally grounded cinema. The tension doesn’t come from monsters or villains — it comes from the sea itself… and time slipping away.
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BMR (Best Movie Review) Rating: 8.2/10
“A chilling reminder that beneath the waves, survival is a silent scream — and hope is oxygen.” 🌊🫁