Last Breath
In 2012, diver Chris Lemons was taking part in a standard saturation dive in the North Sea when his umbilical cable, serving him with oxygen and connecting him to his team, severed in a freak accident. He became trapped 100 metres under the sea without heat or light, and with only the small amount of breathable gas in his backup tank. In a race against the clock, there was a mass effort from his team Dave Youasa and Duncan Allcock, and by some miracle, Chris survived almost 30 minutes without oxygen.
This incredible story was retold in a 2019 documentary by Alex Parkinson and Richard da Costa using real footage and audio from the dive, and now the tale is being depicted again by a star-studded cast under the captaincy of Parkinson. Finn Cole takes the lead as Chris, instantly becoming the viewer’s friend as we establish he is engaged and desperate to succeed in his career. On board the ship, we meet Woody Harrelson, a seasoned veteran of the diving game, and Simu Liu, one of the best in the business. As a trio, the actors make a terrific team, each giving powerful and vital performances that test their limits in a pressurised environment.
Presumably, these cast members would have come with a high price tag, so really it is a bit of a coup for Parkinson to get them on board for the project. Liu and Cole spent three months training with professional divers to perfect their performances and it shows, with the pair combining diving and acting seemingly effortlessly. Last Breath is a visual feat, from the underwater filming to the first-hand view into the science that is required behind saturation diving work. You are left in disbelief at what an utterly insane job it is and the movie is made all the more terrifying by the reminder that what you are witnessing is a true story.
Ultimately, it is this truth behind the drama that makes it so gripping. Much like Ron Howard’s 2022 cave rescue movie Thirteen Lives, the claustrophobic nature of the film gets under your skin and you are in awe there are such incredible people out there in the world. Last Breath is a team effort much like the real work of the divers, and the cast, Parkinson and cinematographer Nick Remy Matthews have managed to create a film that will put the fear of God in you, while also allowing you to enjoy something beautiful.
Guy Lambert
Last Breath is released nationwide on 14th March 2025.
Watch the trailer for Last Breath here:
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