Iron Lung, based on the video game of the same name, officially debuted in theaters on January 30, with thousands more theaters showing the movie than originally anticipated. The film follows a convict involuntarily sent to an expedition to pilot the ‘Iron Lung’, a submarine built to explore one of the only things left in space following the Quiet Rapture: a moon filled with an ocean of blood. There are very few humans left following the catastrophic event, and with the only source of hope being whatever they can find in this ocean, risks must be taken. 

Directed by popular YouTubeYoutube gamer Markiplier (Mark Fischback), the indie movie has been a massive success, grossing over three times its budget of $3 million in the first two weeks of its theatrical run. It was also the #1 movie in America during its opening weekend (and is #6 on the U.S. box office list as of February 18). As an avid fan of Markiplier’s channel for several years and of horror, it’s been a goal of mine to see Iron Lung since production of the film was announced. Fortunately, I got to see the movie twice in theaters, and was absolutely floored with what I saw. 

Although like the video game by David Szymanski in every way, the additions Markiplier included in the film have made the result fantastically better than I ever could have imagined. The amount of thought put into the cinematography is incredible. There are countless moments where the camera pans to the pipes and walls of the submarine, highlighting the condensation and dripping fluids. You can feel the convict’s tension in these shots as he navigates the blood ocean, and there are things shown that further emphasize his anxiety. There are several shots of him rubbing his thumb over the ridges of his dagger sheath, and moments where he complains about the heat, perhaps to have something else on his mind besides the unknown surrounding him. There is so much attention to detaildetails that would otherwise be minor if it were a movie with more than one set. It applies a constant sense of unease to the viewer, keeping them glued to the screen with just the nerve of feeling unsafe. The game itself invokes the same feeling, and I think it was executed very well in the film. 

The length of the movie has been brought up as a flaw inon some reviews, but I think the longer runtime is actually more effective for the viewer. Compared to the game (which has an estimated playthrough of under an hour depending on the player), the movie is twice as long, and it is in this aspect thatwhere I feel like the film is better than the game. With this advanced length, the movie further explores the story, what lies in the blood ocean, and the convict as a character. You learn essentially everything beyond a nameless avatar. His life, his morals, his ambitions, his name. The surrounding characters and the overall experience build his character throughout the film and leave behind a solid, tragic story that I believe is both very enjoyable and heartbreaking. 

There are many other things I have to compliment simply because they were so good, that I would be remiss if I didn’t. The performances of Markiplier, Caroline Rose Kaplan, Troy Baker, and Elsie Lovelock were absolutely incredible. The amount of emotion and intensity delivered byfrom the cast is phenomenal and worthy of praise. I was especially excited to see Elsie Lovelock’s performance when I discovered she was cast in the film, as I know of her fromas a few characters in indie shows and games. She is a talented voice actress and delivered her lines amazingly in Iron Lung. The soundtrack, composed by Andrew Hulshult, is another one of my favorite parts of the movie. It provides an excellent atmosphere, and you can tell each track was composed with the corresponding scenes and mood in mind. The sounds are also just very enjoyable for me to hear personally. It’s metallic, it’s intense, it’s extreme. I normally don’t get the urge to listen to a score on my own, but for Iron Lung, it was immediate. Pinpointing which scenes align with each track has been fun to do. 

It’s incredible to see an independent movie doing so well, when initially expectations were not high in terms of success. It’s good to see creators not be ashamed of what they do, and for them to continue to motivate people to create despite the current state of the film industry, and how creative careers have been treated as of late. 

I will say that this movie isn’t for everyone. It’s a slow burn, an isolated set, and very intense. There is also, obviously, a decent amount of blood shown in the film, so it is understandable if any of these things would turn someone off from seeing it. However, if you are a fan of cosmic horror or horror in general, I highly recommend seeing the film if you can before showings come to a close. And if not, consider going where it all began and play the game! And if you are unable to see the movie, don’t fret, as there will be a home release of some sort in the near future, whether it be on streaming, DVD/Blu-ray, or both. However you are able to consume it, I hope you enjoy it and have an incredible experience.