Iron Lung (Film)

It’s not uncommon for online video content creators to branch out into film, whether acting or directing. Less common, however, is a content creator not only writing, directing, starring in, editing and executive producing their own independent feature, but also adapting a video game. Such is the case with Iron Lung, which represents Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach’s feature directorial debut and adapts the 2022 indie horror game of the same name by David Szymanski. As a fan of Markiplier, I followed the status of the production throughout, including how conflicts with shooting times prevented him from appearing in the original Five Nights at Freddy’s film. I also witnessed the splash that Iron Lung made closer to release, with a small theatrical rollout brought on by independently distributing the film quickly ballooning to the point that major theater chains like AMC and Regal picked it up, the latter even offering an exclusive (3D printable) popcorn bucket. I was hyped enough to be a part of something so unique, regardless of the quality, that I bought tickets for an early screening the day they went live. Fortunately, Markiplier managed to put his money where his mouth is and create a very solid, if imperfect, big screen debut.

In a post-apocalyptic future, an event known as the “Quiet Rapture” has caused all known stars and habitable planets in the universe to disappear. Only those who were on space stations or starships are still alive and searching for any trace of natural resources on barren moons. One such moon contains an ocean of blood. A convict (Mark Fischbach) is sent to explore its depths in a poorly constructed submarine nicknamed the “Iron Lung”, which has been welded shut, for a chance at freedom.

As per Markiplier’s instructions when he introduced the film at the early screening, I will do my best at not spoiling Iron Lung. However, I can say that the film does a good job of adapting the source material by staying faithful to the game’s world while adding more depth to the protagonist and greatly expanding on the otherwise minimalist storyline. Part of this comes from incorporating the game’s hidden lore, what little there was, and either sprinkling it into the dialogue naturally or incorporating it into the convict’s backstory. Iron Lung also wisely leans into the game’s atmospheric tone by gradually building and maintaining a sense of dread as the mission of documenting the blood ocean inevitably takes a turn for the worse, though there is a touch of well-timed humor that feels appropriate for certain moments. I will mention that the film doesn’t end with a jumpscare like in the game but does have a very fitting conclusion based on its narrative trajectory.

Markiplier personally asked us not to spoil the film.

One thing that fans of the game will appreciate is that while it is very game-accurate, as with some modern adaptations like Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, this accuracy doesn’t get in the way of the story. Every game mechanic makes it in, but they all feel very natural and, in some cases, feel important for advancing the plot. The Iron Lung itself is a 1:1 recreation, but with some new elements that feed the sense of mystery over what’s really going on or help illustrate the convict’s deteriorating physical and mental state.

Although other characters do appear in the film, either physically or through voice, over 99% of the film takes place inside the submarine, which means that the film hinges on Markiplier’s acting ability. As a fan of his work, I’m not the most unbiased source to gauge it, but I felt that he did a great job with the material and didn’t go overboard. You can feel the passion for both the original work and for bringing the character to life through a rather compelling performance. He likely won’t win any Oscars, but he can only improve from here.

Markiplier explores more of his range as an actor.

Additional praise goes to the special effects. Most of them are practical, with a record-setting amount of fake blood used by the production at over 80,000 gallons. You don’t necessarily see every gallon on the screen, but you will certainly see a ton of it. What few digital effects there are don’t look out of place and help add a good alien quality to the setting.

Although enjoyable, I did still have some criticisms of the film, though most are more nitpicks than anything else. The deliberate pacing and gradual buildup work well for the story, but the slow pacing did have me checking my watch a few times throughout. That doesn’t mean that I wanted action movie pacing, nor was I in danger of falling asleep, but I could sometimes feel the length. The rate of the convict’s oxygen loss, while good for creating either surprise or tension, felt less consistent and more narrative-based, as with the game itself. I also found some details a little too vague by the end, though I’ll admit that it may have taken some time for me to fully process them. As good as the effects are, there is one practical shot that stood out for the wrong reason. It didn’t take me out of the film, mind you, but you’d know it when you see it.

One minor and admittedly selfish nitpick is that while the score by Andrew Hulshult, who previously worked on games like Doom Eternal and David Szymanski’s own Dusk, is quite good, there was a missed opportunity to incorporate “Blood Ocean” by Dethklok. Of course, I’m aware that Markiplier wouldn’t have been able to secure the rights due to the song’s origin in Metalocalypse and a melodic death metal song would have clashed with the atmospheric tone. Still, the lyrics are quite fitting and I would encourage listening to it anyway.

Fans of Markiplier will certainly love Iron Lung, but the final product is fortunately of a high enough quality that even those looking for a good indie horror production may find themselves in for a good surprise. Even if you're not one of the creator's over 38 million fans, however, its anomalous success in independent film distribution alone may warrant exploring its sanguine depths.