Review: The Last Breath

Digital Platforms, DVD & Blu-ray: The Last Breath (2024)

It was in January of 1976 that my dad took me to the pictures (as we called it back then) to watch Jaws. We queued around the place and just managed to get in before it sold out and the doors were shut.

This was the movie that made me a cinephile. I loved it so much that I asked my dad to take me again the next night, and he did…thanks dad.

Since that cold winters night, not only have I been addicted to movies, but I’ve also had a soft spot for anything involving sharks. So when we were offered the chance to review The Last Breath, I said yes.

The story is a simple one; 2 down on their luck scuba divers find the remains of a long lost sunken ship and plan to cash in on it. Before they have the chance to do so though, some friends of one of the divers arrive and agree to pay £50k to be the first to dive there.

Needless to say this is a bad idea, as not only does their guide line break as they are deep into the bowels of the ship, they are also joined by sharks, each of which is more than ready for a human snack.

While the narrative is a simple sharks vs humans trapped underwater, AND hampered by the fact that most of the characters are unlikeable (I found myself cheering for the sharks on more than one occasion), it has enough going for it that I never once looked at how long was remaining…always a good sign.

The tension ramps up as the oxygen supply of the divers goes down, and the shark effects are a hell of a lot better than in a lot of shark based movies that I’ve watched over the years, especially when it comes to the kills.

Sad to see Julian Sands onscreen for the last time, but thankfully his character is one of the few likeable ones.

The Last Breath has a lot more bite (pun intended) than a lot of other shark movies out there, and is an enjoyable way to spend 96 minutes.

The Last Breath, out now on Digital Platforms, DVD and Blu-ray.

Review by Dave from a streaming link kindly supplied by Signature Entertainment.