Simple ‘race against time’ premises can be exciting. Especially if they are based on true stories. It adds a sort of authenticity to the experience while elevating the characters involved to epic, larger-than-life, status. Movies like Ron Howard’s “Thirteen Lives” did this with the rescuers responsible for saving the lives of a Thailand soccer team caught in a cave back in 2018. Or Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours,” which chronicled the true story of Aron Ralston, who had to amputate his arm in order to escape being trapped by a boulder in Utah back in 2003. Truth, as the somewhat cliched expression goes, is stranger than fiction.
Which brings us to “Last Breath.” An upcoming scripted feature based on a dangerous deep sea rescue that occurred off the coast of Scotland back in 2012. A documentary version of the event was released on Netflix back in 2019 and was well-received. The upcoming fictional adaptation starring Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu, can surely capitalize on it being based on a true story. If it can successfully capture the inherent suspense of a sequence of events that actually happened, then it will surely pull in viewers.
“Last Breath” is directed by Alex Parkinson, who co-wrote and co-directed the 2019 documentary. It’s written by Mitchelle LaFortune, Parkinson, and David Brooks. The cast includes Finn Cole, Harrelson, Liu, and Djimon Hounsou. Father and son Paul and David Brooks developed the film and serve as producers along with Hal Sadoff, Norman Golightly, Jeremy Plager, Stewart le Marechal, Al Morrow, and Anna Mohr-Pietsch. Parkinson, LaFortune, Danny Mandel, Alastair Burlingham, and Dan Clifton are executive producers.
“Last Breath” follows a deep sea diver in a race against time to rescue a fellow crewmate, Chris Lemons, trapped and untethered 100 meters below the North Sea with little oxygen.
Here’s the synopsis:
A heart-pounding film that follows seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface. Based on a true story, LAST BREATH is an electrifying story about teamwork, resilience, and a race against time to do the impossible
Focus Features will release “Last Breath” in theaters February 28, 2025. You can watch the trailer below:
