“Iron Lung” Rated: R
“See it, Stream it, Skip it” is a movie review column by writer Cody Buskohl that aims to give readers spoiler-free reviews of new box office films and report back on whether they should see it now, wait until it comes to streaming services, or skip it altogether.
Plot Summary: Based on the 2022 video game of the same name by David Szymanski, “Iron Lung” takes place in the future after humanity has colonized space.
An event called “The Quiet Rapture” causes all planets and star life to mysteriously disappear, leaving only people left on space stations or ships alive.
While exploring a now devoid universe, a moon with a mysterious ocean of blood is found, and the survivors begin to investigate by sending convicts in submarines to explore and perhaps acquire information on the mysterious Quiet Rapture.
Review: I was skeptical when I heard that YouTube sensation Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach was self-funding, writing, directing, editing and playing the main role in a movie based on a one-hour-long indie video game.
I was wrong to be judgmental – dead wrong, because “Iron Lung” is incredible. Fischbach plays Simon, the first convict to be sent down into the mysterious blood ocean on moon AT-5.
The survivors agree that if he finds useful information, he will be pardoned for his crimes. As Simon begins his descent in the opening seconds of the film, the atmosphere of “Iron Lung” already becomes
impressively crippling.
While watching, you can hear the hull buckle under the pressure of the ocean, the drips of condensation and hull leaks, and noises that an “empty” blood ocean maybe shouldn’t be making.
The one-room set is a near-perfect recreation of the submarine from the original game, which adds perfectly to the uncomfortable vibes ruminating for every aspect of the mission, the side characters and Simon himself.
Fischbach plays his character well, a must since he is the lone body for the majority of the film.
Prospective viewers—specifically Markiplier fans—may worry they will have a tough time differentiating Fischbach from his YouTube persona, but by the halfway point of the film, I really saw him as a separate entity.
He expertly played a desperate man who just wanted to survive, even if it seemed like nobody else cared about his fate. “Iron Lung” will keep you on the edge of your seat and perhaps even irritated.
In one scene, a blaring alarm was getting me ready to internally explode with frustration. Right as I began thinking, “SHUT UP!” Simon said the same thing (plus a chain of expletives.)
Despite being a horror movie, it was cathartic to watch just because the (few) characters act so humanely. And “Iron Lung” isn’t your traditional horror movie with a monster or slasher villain like Hollywood seems to churn out on an annual basis.
The film may more accurately be called a slow-burn thriller—an oxymoron, yes, but an apt description nevertheless. But horror is also still an appropriate name for “Iron Lung” too.
The idea of putting myself in Simon’s shoes, being forced to do a suicide mission for what seems like no reason, in the bottom of the (blood) ocean, no less? That sounds like my worst fear.
The opening shot uses really bad CGI, although it vastly improves in scenes later on. The first thirty minutes are pretty slow-paced, and basically serve as a micro version of the original game where you get familiar with the submarine’s limited capabilities and some lore.
The audio mixing is hit-or-miss, with some scenes being hard to hear, while other scenes perfectly articulate the damp and unnerving atmosphere of the SM-13 submarine.
The movie can also be a little confusing, because Simon is going somewhat crazy due to his isolation. But “Iron Lung” succeeds far more than it fails, and general audiences agree with me.
The film grossed nearly $20 million worldwide (on a $3 million budget) in its opening weekend nearly surpassing Sam Raimi’s “Get Help” for the #1 movie in America.
“Iron Lung” was the #1 movie for the weekend in Australia and New Zealand.
“Iron Lung’s” success came through word-of-mouth marketing only—primarily through Fischbach’s YouTube channel—and while originally only aiming for a 60-theater, US-only release.
Instead, it exploded into a 4,161-theater international release, with theaters approving additional showings after seeing the movie’s success.
If you are a fan of non-traditional horror, thrillers, Markiplier, or simply want to support the indie film scene, go see “Iron Lung” before it disappears from theaters.
Normal’s AMC theater has confirmed showings through Tuesday, Feb. 10, but there is no guarantee the movie gets another weekend, so grab a friend and see it now.
FINAL VERDICT: SEE IT!
4/5 candy hearts
