Last week I had an experience I could only compare to a weird dream: I watched “Iron Lung”, the passion project of YouTube celebrity Mark Fischbach, better known as Markiplier.
A 2026 horror film based off of David Szymanski’s 2022 video game of the same name, Fischbach financed, edited, produced, directed, wrote and even starred in the movie. I had been anticipating this project since production began in 2023. As such, I wanted it to be good, so my review might be more charitable than others.
The premise of the film is unique, to say the least. Humanity teeters on the brink of extinction after the sudden disappearance of every planet and star in an event known as “the Quiet Rapture,” leaving behind those in spacecraft or stations to cling onto what little remains. The only celestial bodies left are barren moons, although one is unique — it contains an ocean full of blood. A convict (Fischbach) is dispatched to investigate inside a ramshackle submarine in exchange for his freedom.
I would describe “Iron Lung” as a slow burn, with most of the plot unraveling inside the submarine and following the convict’s battle against internal and external threats. That said, there were several moments of action and tension that drew me back in, like when his submarine faces its first threat from the outside. The occasional pieces of the convict’s backstory revealed through dialogue captivated me as well.
The universe is arguably the best thing about the film. I still had many unanswered questions and a bit of confusion when I left the theater, but I believe Fischbach intended for the viewer to draw their own conclusions. However, the sound design somewhat hampered my comprehension of the film. Half the dialogue was heavily filtered through a speaker and rendered unintelligible. Later in the film, so many characters were talking at once that it was hard to decipher anything. Giving more time to the final scenes would have clarified the outcome as well.
The special and practical effects were strong, especially considering that Markiplier did them using a high-powered computer system, called a render farm, that he built in his bathroom. The effects did a stellar job of portraying the cosmic horror aspects of the plot. The blood, perhaps the most important thing to get right visually, looked accurate and definitely contributed to the feeling of otherworldly dread. I also loved how the film took into account what difficulties traversing a sanguine sea might entail, as opposed to water.
As for the acting, I am by no means nor do I claim to an authority on the performing arts, but on a scale from Steven Seagal to Alexander Skarsgård, I would say Fischbach’s portrayal was around a Ben Stiller. Fiscbach’s delivery wasn’t exceptional, but still managed to carry weight and had a passion behind it. Notable moments included the conflict of his own self worth, as well as his actions in the final scenes. The supporting cast did a good enough job, but were limited by the aforementioned sound decisions.
All in all, I enjoyed the movie despite its faults, and would give it a tentative six out of ten. I would only recommend seeing “Iron Lung” if you enjoy eldritch horror, are a fan of the game or Markiplier or enjoy a slow-paced thriller.
