For the better part of a decade, I have followed Mark Fischbach, known to the internet as Markiplier, through nearly every era of his content creation career. From horror gameplays to comedy sketches, his charisma has been a constant.
Naturally, finding out about his directorial debut, “Iron Lung,” was a moment of genuine excitement. In preparation, I made a conscious choice to break my usual habit of devouring his gameplay videos, strictly avoiding any content related to the original Iron Lung indie horror game. I wanted the film to be a pure, surprising cinematic experience.
Set in a future where the stars have vanished, a convict is forced to pilot a rusting, windowless submarine into an ocean of blood. Armed only with a grainy camera and blind navigation, he must map the crimson depths to earn his freedom — while something massive hunts him in the darkness.
Walking out of the theater, however, that anticipation settled into a complicated mix of celebration and confusion. As a directorial debut, “Iron Lung” is undeniably an achievement. Fischbach, stepping into the lead role, delivers a surprisingly intense performance. While you can tell this is early in his career, he carries the weight of the film — quite literally, as he is often the only thing on screen — proving his internet persona can translate into compelling acting. For a first-time filmmaker, working alongside the game creator David Szymanski, the visual language is distinct. It captures the oppressive, rusty claustrophobia of a submarine navigating an ocean of blood.
However, the transition from niche indie game to feature length film seems to have hit some structural challenges. For this film, I would recommend doing prior research on the game before watching. Entering the theater with zero background knowledge of the lore proved to be a significant struggle, one that the movie failed to address. The plot felt “chunky,” moving in abrupt sections rather than a cohesive flow. The narrative seemed to rely heavily on an understanding of the source material, leaving newcomers stranded in a sea of unanswered questions. What exactly is the Quiet Rapture? Why this specific mission? The movie offers breadcrumbs where it needs to offer a meal.
It was only after returning home and watching a “breakdown” video explaining the game’s lore that the movie began to slightly click into place. I can appreciate how the film slightly expanded on the game’s minimalist story, adding layers that fans of the franchise likely adored. But a film should stand on its own, and “Iron Lung” struggles to do so without a specific explanation. Even after learning more, I was left with a pile of questions which are forever unanswered — a plot device that is sometimes powerful, yet falls short in this film.
Another glaring issue is the runtime. Stretching a short, atmospheric horror experience into a multi-hour experience exposed the thinness of the premise. With a limited setting and essentially a single character, the movie did a lackluster job of weaving in necessary backstory or character motivation. The buildup felt less like mounting dread and more like narrative stalling.
Despite its drawbacks, this movie was unlike any I have seen before. With its extremely limited setting and cast, tense atmosphere and fear of the unknown, it is most comparable to “10 Cloverfield Lane.” Yet, the two are still wildly different in plot devices and storytelling. “Iron Lung” felt very unique and eerie, with the opening scenes acting almost as a “tutorial” for how the film was going to play out.
Ultimately, “Iron Lung” is an interesting experiment in isolation horror that falls short of being a cohesive story. While the atmosphere is thick and the lead performance is solid, the movie format demands a level of exposition and pacing that this adaptation couldn’t quite achieve. It’s a valiant effort, but for those who haven’t played the game, it’s a confusing descent that leaves you wishing for a bit more light in the darkness.
