YouTuber-turned-filmmakers have become a more common trend in recent years, with films like Talk to Me and Shelby Oaks finding lots of success in the indie scene. Arguably, the largest success of a YouTuber-turned-filmmaker is Iron Lung, directed by Mark Fischbach (Markiplier). Based on a 2022 video game, Fischbach not only served as the director but also as the writer, executive producer, editor, and lead actor. This already put a lot on his shoulders, but that’s not all he did for the movie. Fischbach also financed and distributed the movie himself without any major studio backing, relying on his name and the support of his fans to bring his passion project to the big screen. This turned out to be a massive success, as the film is set to gross between $15 and $17 million in its domestic debut weekend, which is over five times its budget.

The film takes place solely in the confines of a submarine, but finds creative ways to blend genres. After an event known as the Quiet Rapture wipes out most of the population and all the stars in the sky, a convict, Simon (Fischbach), is forced to explore the depths of a moon’s blood-soaked ocean to become free and potentially save humanity. With no windows in the submarine and the vessel’s constant electrical failures, Simon begins to lose his sanity as he struggles to understand himself and his purpose in life.

Iron Lung was not Fischbach’s first venture into filmmaking, but it is by far the biggest project he’s ever worked on, and it shows throughout the movie. Blending elements of sci-fi and horror, the film attempts to build a world of dystopia and dread. The blood-leaking walls of the submarine act as a perfect catalyst for Simon’s mindset, slowly deteriorating due to his dangerous circumstances and mental state. The lack of lighting also contributes to this, with the darkness showing that the horror is always present. In cases like this, Fischbach shows great potential in the world of filmmaking.

Despite some elements of effective craftsmanship, Fischback’s lack of experience shows throughout the film. The camerawork is present in each scene, but adds nothing to the overall narrative. While the production design and exteriors add to the tone, the camera lacks dynamism, failing to convey the claustrophobia and inventiveness necessary for a film set in one location. As a result, the shot selections grow stale shortly after the film’s opening. There are times when it acts as a fly-on-the-wall, but it is far too inconsistent to serve as the main takeaway about the camera’s purpose in the film.

Like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, one-location films need an amazing actor to carry them, especially when the runtime is over two hours. While Fischbach does a better-than-expected job as the protagonist, he lacks the range to make the character thrive. His tone and diction are quite effective in scenes, especially those of emotional outbursts, but his facial expressions never match his words, making for a jumbled performance that is hard to emotionally connect with. It would have been easier to overlook the flaws in his performance if his character had a deeper backstory, but because so much of the movie relies on his acting, the issues become all the more apparent.

Taking place in one location works for and against the film. While the protagonist’s confinement is effectively portrayed, the tension of the main mission is entirely absent. Simon is meant to be piloting the submarine for most of the movie, but the film offers no indication of where he is going or what he is traveling through. Although this is likely something the video game did, for a movie, it is integral to have a sense of environment, and Iron Lung has none outside the submarine. There are times when Simon is meant to travel to a destination quickly, but because there are no exterior shots of the submarine and no sense of what he is driving through, it removes all horror and tension from the scene.

Arguably, the worst sin a movie can commit is being boring, and sadly, Iron Lung falls under that category. The film immediately jumps into Simon’s mission without providing any context for what he is doing or why, removing all stakes from the situation. Because of this, there is zero reason to care about what is going on. The runtime is also extremely bloated, wasting time on Simon fixing and exploring the submarine rather than advancing the plot, making what is already an uninteresting story feel even more exhausting to sit through. There is an attempt to bring to life themes of regret and humanity, but the story is so dull and lacking in stakes that it makes all ventures into nuance fall flat.

Everything behind the scenes of Iron Lung makes me want to view the film in a positive light, but its overlong runtime and uninteresting story made it impossible for me to support. Fischbach shows signs of competent filmmaking, but overall, doesn’t have the experience to execute a film of this high ambition. If Fischbach decides to devote his life to filmmaking, I can see a world where he excels, but as of now, a ton of work needs to be done.

Iron Lung is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Rating: 3/10

Oscar Prospects:

None