Iron Lung is set in the far future where a catastrophic event known as “The Quiet Rapture” has caused all the known stars and habitable planets to mysteriously disappear, leaving only those who were on space stations or starships. With supplies dwindling and infrastructure crumbling, survivors search for any trace of natural resources they can use. Convict Simon (Markiplier) is sent on a suicide mission to explore an ocean of blood on a desolate moon in the hopes that he might find something, anything that could save the last remnants of humanity. Alone on a rickety sub, he is told that if he survives he will earn his freedom. When his mission takes a turn for the worst, Simon will not only have to fight off his crumbling sanity but also the horrors that lurk underneath the bloody waves.
The day has finally arrived. Beloved YouTuber Mark “Markiplier” Fishbach (listed only as Markiplier in the credits) releases his first ever theatrical movie. Mark not only stars in Iron Lung, he also directs, penns the screenplay by himself, is in charge of editing duties, and even self-financed the project (That means no production logos play before the film). Yes, this is a wildly ambitious film. Iron Lung is a rarity in that it is a genuine low-budget independent movie.
Mark as an actor is pretty good, considering he is working off of voices for the majority of the film. His acting isn’t unlike how he acts during his Let’s Plays, but he still does a convincing and emotional job. He competently carries the entirety of the film on his back. No easy task, believe you me. Mark throws himself through the wringer, allowing himself to be tossed around like a rag doll, drowned in torrential rivers of blood, and even gets to play with some very gross practical prosthetics/effects (the CGI seldomly utilized is quite good as well). His effort and dedication do not go unnoticed.
Iron Lung is a wild and experimental sci-fi psychological survival horror movie. It’s not made for general audiences. Running at around two hours, the film is slowly paced and, while there’s a lot of lore and story included, there isn’t always much going on on-screen to keep audiences awake and engaged. The audio in my theater was pretty muted, so I had to strain to make sure I could hear what was being said (I’m assuming this was an issue with my theater and not the film, but I could be wrong). The strongest portions are the first and third act. The final minutes in particular are really gripping.
Iron Lung is effectively claustrophobic and tense for most of its run-time. You will feel like you were trapped aboard the “Iron Lung” with poor Simon by the time the end credits roll. Questions involving faith, science, the trustworthiness of those who orchestrated the mission, and Simon’s sanity are raised throughout. Most is explained by the end, but Iron Lung does a pretty good job at keeping audiences guessing right up till the end.
The score is done by Andrew Hulshult, who scored the new Doom games. It sounds very good and assists in upping the tension or adrenaline at certain moments.The cinematography by Philip Roy is crisp, clear, and more than competent. The sole set used is very cool, but the budgetary restraints can be evidenced in some parts (mainly the control panel and camera screen). The costume for Simon is very cool as well.
Iron Lung was a clear labor of love for all involved. While the final product likely won’t win any awards, long-time gamers and fans of Markiplier should find something to enjoy here. Iron Lung impresses and surprises more than it doesn’t. It’s also the rare good (very good, actually) video game movie. Good job, Mark. I’ll see you in the next review. BUH-BYE!!!!
4 STARS
