REVIEW: “Iron Lung” (2026)

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The indie horror film “Iron Lung” is gaining a lot of attention, and its potential success is a noteworthy story in itself. The film is a one-man project – written, directed, edited, and produced by Mark Fischbach, better known online as Markiplier. He’s a hugely popular YouTuber and streamer, currently boasting over 38 million subscribers.

As a total film buff, I was amazed to learn that director Evan Fischbach actually funded “Iron Lung” himself, pouring in $3 million of his own money! But what’s even more incredible is how he got it seen. He started small, releasing it in just 60 independent cinemas, and then relied on his fans to spread the word. They launched this amazing grassroots campaign, and it really worked – major theater chains took notice! Now, the film is playing on over 4,100 screens around the world and made over $21 million just on its opening weekend. It’s a truly inspiring story of independent filmmaking!

The movie “Iron Lung” is inspired by a 2022 indie video game created by David Szymanski. Both the game and the film put you inside a tiny, claustrophobic submarine. While the tight spaces aren’t the problem, the movie’s two-hour length feels drawn out, as the director often extends scenes unnecessarily.

The story takes place far in the future, after humans have spread throughout space. Then, a devastating event known as the Quiet Rapture caused every star system to simply disappear – all the planets, stars, and moons, along with most of humanity. Only a few people survived, those who happened to be on space stations or ships, and they’re now struggling to avoid complete extinction.

The film introduces Simon, a restless prisoner convincingly portrayed by Fischbach, who is sent on a perilous mission to atone for a past mistake revealed throughout the story. He must venture into a vast, unexplored ocean of a strange, crimson liquid on a remote moon – a place thought to contain vital information and resources for humanity. His superiors only have basic scans of the area, so Simon’s task is to explore the depths, document what he finds with photographs, and earn his freedom in return.

Simon’s tiny submarine is completely sealed to withstand the immense pressure of the deep ocean, leaving him in total darkness underwater. He relies on instruments and a grainy x-ray camera to navigate. Above, his handler, the no-nonsense Ava (Caroline Rose Kaplan), directs him with short, sharp commands, attempting to keep him on track.

The story doesn’t have a complex plot, but the first thirty minutes are incredibly engaging, both in terms of what happens and how it’s filmed. The beginning is both frightening and intriguing, with new information constantly increasing the tension and revealing both physical and mental threats. As things unfold, relationships break down and bigger mysteries appear. Throughout this, the director expertly shows us the ‘Iron Lung’ ship, making us feel the intense claustrophobia and danger through striking visuals and sound.

Unfortunately, the film becomes frustratingly slow and aimless. The director stretches a simple story too thin, making scenes drag on and repeat, which becomes boring. As the main character explores various detours, the plot loses focus and raises more questions than it resolves.

The movie really kicks into high gear during the last half-hour, with a lot of intense, realistic gore. The director and his team deliver a bloody finale using impressive practical effects. While the dark lighting and shaky camera sometimes make it hard to follow, the ending is visually shocking and aims for maximum impact, even if the story itself doesn’t quite match the intensity.

Look, I really wanted to love “Iron Lung.” There’s a lot to appreciate – the core idea is fantastic, it’s clearly well-made, and you can tell Markiplier really threw himself into this, both as the actor and the creator. But honestly, the movie just drags in the middle. It loses steam and any sense of tension, and what should be a thrilling ride becomes… well, a bit of a slog. It’s a shame, because I think there’s a really solid 90-minute movie buried in there that I would have absolutely adored.

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2026-02-04 20:58