Last Breath

If you’re among those unfamiliar with saturation divers, Last Breath effectively validates its claim that the job is one of the most dangerous on Earth.

That’s strange in a way, because while watching this taut and straightforward survival drama, it almost feels like the three protagonists are undersea astronauts exploring another world, completely disconnected from humanity.

Based on a remarkable true story, the film salutes courage and camaraderie among practitioners of an unheralded profession with sincerity and suspense.

The story follows a trio tasked with maintaining pipelines off the coast of Scotland, in the dark depths of the Atlantic Ocean. They spend days in isolation in a diving bell, which helps their bodies decompress and acclimate to the conditions.

The crew consists of Duncan (Woody Harrelson), a sardonic old-timer on his final mission before involuntary retirement; his hand-picked rookie protégé, Chris (Finn Cole); and no-nonsense partner Dave (Simu Liu), who’s somewhat skeptical of the newcomer.

Despite their collective experience, of course they’re not prepared for every uncertainty. When disaster strikes at the job site, the team becomes separated with a dwindling oxygen supply, limited communication options, and assistance out of reach.

You can question the legitimacy of director Alex Parkinson remaking his 2019 documentary of the same name, since his narrative filmmaking debut doesn’t improve upon that effort in any meaningful way while softening some of the edges for mainstream consumption.

Still, Parkinson obviously knows his subject, and the screenplay is well-researched and detailed, from terminology to routine. The characters are naturally engaging and sympathetic, which is especially vital considering the intimacy inherent in the story.

After all, the film generates tension by mixing its claustrophobic setting with perilous circumstances. The film stumbles in switching its attention — and our emotional investment — too frequently between the ocean floor and the surface, where the ship captain (Cliff Curtis) supervises a rescue effort fraught with moral dilemmas.

Despite the conventional structure, the fact-based particulars of the journey keep it from sinking, and the actors lend conviction to minimally developed characters.

As a harrowing depiction of a harsh and unforgiving environment, Last Breath efficiently sidesteps crowd-pleasing cliches in highlighting resilience and determination under intense pressure.

Rated PG-13, 93 minutes.