Last Breath is a 2025 survival thriller from the same director of the 2019 documentary of the same name. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis. Based on a true story, the film follows seasoned deep-sea divers who battle raging waters to rescue a crewmate who’s wrapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface.

I was a little late on this one. I took time off to spend time with loved ones and now I’m trying to get caught up before things get even more hectic this month. The film appeared to be somewhat generic. While it does have that generic tone, I was completely enthralled by how realistic it was.

The key aspect I was completely blown away by is the attention to detail in the production design, both above and below water. I can imagine this had a modest budget, especially with boasting an A-list cast ensemble. It’s not easy to still make everything look authentic and realistic.

Above the water, there is a lot of detail in the locations. It’s clear bringing in the same director from the documentary was the right choice to make this from the get go. The underwater scenes fully immerse you in the situation. When the inciting incident, my body went numb. The idea of being trapped in a void of emptiness terrifies me, and the film does a great job at conveying that.

The performances from the 3 key actors are all great. Finn Cole is truly the lead, even if he is cast 3rd on the call sheet. This is his story, but I get why Harrelson & Liu are above him. Harrelson plays his typical likable self that he is good at. He helps convey the heart and importance of the story. Liu does a great job at playing something different. I truly wish the guy would get more roles.

The biggest problem the film faces is how it prioritizes the realistic situation over the characterization. Outside of Finn Cole, there’s really none. The key actors are great, but Harrelson’s character lacks the reason to his character. Liu’s character is the typical character that’s too hard on the new guy for no reason. Then, there is Cliff Curtis, who I consistently forgot he was in the film. It’s a shame, because he is also a terrific actor.

With a 93 minute runtime, the film flies by, which is a good and a bad thing. It’s great to waste no time paying for what you are wanting to see, yet a longer runtime could have improved these characters and their goals. Adding at least 30 minutes to the beginning could help raise the stakes for these characters and why they need to accomplish their goals.

The dialogue also doesn’t quite always work either. It can be cliché and overdone at times. The dialogue just feels like a typical thriller rather than creating something documentary. I personally don’t understand how Liu’s character would understand that Finn’s character would come back. He does come back, but I don’t even understand how he made it back. Then, there is the ending where the dynamic between Cole’s character and his fiancée was resolved within seconds. I had a hard time buying that. At least give the fiancée more to do in the film.

Overall, Last Breath fully immerses you in the situation with its production design, cinematography, and direction. The performances are great with Cole showcasing he can lead a film, but the characterization is severely underdeveloped, lacking the needed suspense for the story. Improving the development and dialogue would help improve the film. Other than those critiques, I still found this to be a fully immersive film that’s worth watching.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)