It’s Shark Week, everyone! Time to update your watchlists with the best — and maybe the most cheesy — aquaphobic creature features to enjoy alongside summer’s most significant event.
I am a massive fan of some of the most acclaimed shark movies ever made, such as Jaws and Deep Blue Sea. I also consider myself a dedicated enthusiast of delightfully cheesy, B-rated, C-rated and D-rated creature features. These movies often embrace their campy, over-the-top qualities and serve as perfect guilty pleasures. Some examples include Sand Sharks, Sharktopus and Ghost Shark — sharksploitation is my specialty.
Most shark movies involve scuba diving at some point, a trade I would love to try one day. The idea of being underwater for a prolonged period to take in the beautiful flora and fauna is fascinating to me.
Joachim Hedén’s The Last Breath opens with a scene from World War II. Eventually, a giant ship quickly meets its demise before being transported to the present day, where a scuba diver, Noah (Jack Parr) and his mate, Levi (Julian Sands), find the legendary World War II sunken ship. Hoping this will bring them a fortune, Noah gathers his college friends to help him explore the sunken wreckage.
They navigate through a maze of corridors and levels of the boat until they reach an air pocket on the third level down. After some friendly banter and a few shots of liquor, the group becomes alarmed when the wire leading them back to the top of the boat is suddenly severed. With limited air remaining in their tanks, they must find their way out of the wreckage… all while avoiding a giant great white shark prowling the ship’s hallways.
I’m just going to address the elephant in the room: this is definitely a cheesy, low-budget shark movie. Think about the growing collection of shark films on Tubi. Yes, it fits into that category. There are certain situations where these kitschy flicks are best enjoyed: when you’re brain-dead and need a mindless movie to relax, or it’s the weekend and you’re drinking or using other substances. Either way, this is for shark lovers like me, who can be pretty forgiving.
It’s probably ludicrous that I would review such a movie, but I am the perfect person to do it. I live for these second-rate, lesser-regarded films. There is no shame in my game!
One of the first key elements I look for in a shark movie is the vibe. This one feels fresh, with the sunken ship serving as antagonist, alongside the sharks. The cinematography by Eric Börjeson is stunning. It showcases the sparkling blue ocean and a tropical island with a beach party, music and cold drinks. This feels like peak summer! A beach I’d like to be at, soaking up the rays with a beer and book in hand.
Regarding the performances, they’re not particularly impressive, but that’s to be expected. The acting and dialogue are so exaggerated that they become amusing, which I actually enjoy. Julian Sands stands out as the most notable actor in the cast. He has previously appeared in one of my favorite creature features, Arachnophobia. Sands has also been in bigger productions, including A Room with a View, Ocean’s Thirteen and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. His performance in The Last Breath is especially the strongest of the bunch, where he plays a seasoned sailor with a lot of worldly experience, all the while crocheting little hats, as directed by his doctor.
I’m surprised an actor with his background was hired, but on the other hand, I recently watched another new shark movie with Richard Dreyfuss, and it was utterly terrible. So, star power is good, but it doesn’t guarantee a win!
Not to mention, I would like to remember Dreyfuss as a young Matt Hooper forever.
Now, here’s why we watch these kinds of movies: the sharks. It does take some time for the sharks to appear. Building anticipation and suspense, the scenes gradually reveal their ominous presence. I can wait patiently if the payoff is worth it. Nothing beats the thrill of the first glimpse of those menacing creatures emerging from the depths. These aren’t the worst CGI sharks I’ve seen, but they certainly aren’t convincing or terrifying, either.
With a bigger budget, the filmmakers could have improved the sharks’ appearance to make them more realistic and threatening, potentially turning the film into a cult classic. Sometimes, though, a rough CGI shark combined with effective gore — such as practical effects and shredded flesh — can work just fine and deliver a visceral, adrenaline-filled experience. And I experienced a little of that! There’s enough gore to make the juice worth the squeeze.
The death scenes aren’t anything new or unfamiliar, but the carnage is an essential element to check off. Most of the college friend characters are so unlikable and underdeveloped that it doesn’t matter if they live or die. I’m not seeking an emotional connection to these types of actors.
One thing this movie did well was build tension. The moments when they’re trying to escape through the ship’s hallways and see a shadow at the end, revealing the shark, were excellent. I was on the edge of my seat!
I understand this genre isn’t for everyone. And if you’re searching for the next classic, this isn’t it. But if you’re binge-watching movies for Shark Week, I suggest adding this to your watchlist. Put it there for an easy, yet enjoyable watch that isn’t trying to be the next great creature feature.
Overall, I rate The Last Breath two and a half out of five stars. That’s pretty good for a low-budget film. I want to add that a movie poster for a shark movie is nine out of 10 times way cooler than the film is. Don’t let it get your hopes up because this poster is incredibly awesome!
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this for my hopeful future scuba diving adventures, it’s that if you stumble upon any sunken relic, it’s probably best to avoid it.
The Last Breath is streaming for the first time in the U.S. on Shudder.