Parents' Guide to Last Breath

This is a high-stakes, well-acted rescue drama that entertains despite leaving a few pressing questions unanswered. Audiences don't need to be thalassophobic (afraid of deep bodies of water) to feel the visceral fright as Chris lies stranded on the deep-sea floor. With its compact 93-minute runtime, director Alex Parkinson's adaptation of the same-titled British documentary forgoes deep characterization, opting instead for broad strokes. Harrelson's Duncan is the older, kinder mentor on the brink of retirement, serving as a foil to Liu's serious, quiet Dave. Even Chris' backstory gets only superficial treatment beyond establishing that he lives with Morag, who would prefer that he avoid such dangerous work. Still, the actors convey a believable camaraderie, largely thanks to Harrelson's natural charm.

The above-sea action is led by a trio of standout character actors: Cliff Curtis as the ship's put-upon captain, Mark Bonnar as the dive team's supervisor (and former sat diver) Craig, and Josef Altin as a specialist who saves the day by manually rewiring the digital positioning system. There's much to appreciate technically in this tautly directed film, though it lacks deeper emotional investment in the three principal divers. An epilogue featuring documentary footage of the actual divers provides a satisfying, feel-good conclusion to the nearly unbelievable rescue.