Directed by Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach and based on the indie video game of the same name by David Szymanski, Iron Lung is set in a post-apocalyptic future after an event known as “The Quiet Rapture” caused all known stars and habitable planets in the universe to disappear, putting humanity on the brink of extinction. A convict named Simon (Mark Fischbach) is sent to explore an ocean of blood discovered on a desolate moon using a poorly constructed submarine nicknamed the “Iron Lung” to find potential resources for humanity’s survival in return for his freedom. But beneath the ocean of blood lurks unearthly horrors that await his arrival.
Markiplier, aka Mark Fischbach, is a very popular YouTuber who is known for his gaming, comedy, and various narrative projects over the years, gaining many fans all over the world, including myself, with his incredible content. He’s most well known for his “Let’s Play” videos that often feature indie horror games of many kinds, and one of those games he played was a 2022 submarine simulation horror game developed and published by David Szymanski called Iron Lung. The simple yet claustrophobically terrifying premise and gameplay of the game was enough to inspire Mark to adapt this game into a full theatrical film that serves as his first directorial debut.
We’ve had several YouTubers in recent years make their own directorial debuts on the big screen, like the Philippou Brothers with their two successful horror films Talk To Me and Bring Her Back, as well as Chris Stuckmann with his rather unsuccessful horror film Shelby Oaks. But now it was time for Markiplier to shine and I have been eagerly looking forward to seeing this film, especially after being such a big fan of his for years. So how did his big debut turn out? It turned out to be quite an extraordinary experience.
Iron Lung is an ambitious and incredible indie horror film that Mark and his team were able to execute extremely well, showing amazing talent both in front and behind the camera. The film starts off as a slow burn sci-fi survival horror like the game it’s adapted from but then it evolves into a more psychological and Lovecraftian type of horror that goes to crazy directions that I didn’t expect yet ended up loving very much. Even while taking place in one single claustrophobic space and working with a simple premise Mark and his team were able to make a truly compelling story that had me on the edge of my seat from start to end as well as deliver one of the most unique indie horrors of this year so far.
As one would expect from an indie-level project, the cast is extremely small, and while the supporting cast does a solid job with their respective roles in the film, the one to stand out amongst the cast is Markiplier himself as the leading character. Mark has always been one of the most expressive people I’ve ever watched playing games in terms of having a wide range of emotions and energy that I always thought he would make for a great actor in something outside of his comedic skits. Mark ends up proving me right in this film, delivering an absolutely phenomenal and layered performance as this convict character, making us truly care about him on an emotional level as he endures a hellish and seemingly doomed voyage into the unknown depths of the blood ocean, facing unearthly horrors beyond what his mind could handle.
Mark’s performance as Simon is what really drives the film’s emotional and psychological core, keeping us engaged in the story as he gradually tries everything he can to survive the situation he is in that pushes him to his limits. We get an intimate insight into his character beyond his overwhelming desire to live, and to me that’s the most crucial part of a horror is to make sure you care about the characters involved before kicking off the intense horror, and I believe Mark succeeds in doing that with Simon.
The story follows the exact premise of the game, embracing the claustrophobic survival horror elements both narratively and visually ,but is all enhanced with the addition of a developed character to lead the story rather than an anonymous player controlled character, as well as an expansion on the world this game takes place in regarding what led to humanity’s near extinction and what led them to commit such a desperate act of sacrificing convicts to explore an alien moon with an ocean of blood. The film’s slow burn pace gives time for audiences to connect with Simon while also taking the opportunity to establish some light world-building of the state of humanity and the universe, all while remaining in the claustrophobic setting. To some that may sound boring but in my view the narrative is written so well that I was completely engaged with everything that was going on throughout the first two acts of the film, as there was still the feeling of dread and tension for what could be lurking in the depths of the blood ocean. This includes a mysterious beast that gets a terrifying upgrade compared to the game version and it is thankfully not shown too much, allowing it to be scarier and let the fear of the unknown really sink in.
The film takes a sudden turn in the third act, going from a simple survival horror with some psychological elements littered throughout to a full-on Lovecraftian nightmare that is an absolute mind f**k of an experience that doesn’t let up until the film’s ending. It is an absolutely magnificent payoff to all the slow-burning buildup and I loved every minute of it with its insane execution, both narratively and especially visually.
The film looks absolutely amazing on a technical level, with its indie budget featuring an incredible practical set, phenomenal cinematography, stellar practical effects, fantastic audio design, and impressive uses of CGI when needed. This film looks and feels exactly like the game, adapting the oppressive atmosphere of the submarine’s archaic interior perfectly while also feeling like a character of its own that evolves visually over the course of the film along with its lead character. Given this film takes place in an ocean of blood there’s obviously a lot of fake blood involved and we get to see gallons of it used, turning this film into Evil Dead in certain glorious yet terrifying sequences.
Enhancing the haunting feeling of this film is an equally haunting and intense score by composer Andrew Hulshult, who really goes all in with it to assault the senses and make us feel everything that is going on in the film, whether it be dread or panic.
The film as a whole may not necessarily be for everyone but to me it is one of the best and most unique indie horrors I’ve seen recently next to Good Boy from last year. Fans of Markiplier are certainly going to be satisfied with this film after such a long wait, but I also feel this film will also satisfy many horror fans who are looking for something different. I can’t help but be proud of the work Mark and his team were able to pull off with this film, and if he ever decides to do another film after this one then I am certainly all for it and can’t wait to see where he may go next. Definitely be sure to see this film in theaters and give it your support because it deserves it. I’m going to give Iron Lung an A = 97.
You can find more of my writing on instagram, and check out my channel on YouTube!