★★★★☆

What do you do when you’re left to your own devices, alone, at the bottom of an ocean of blood? Iron Lung explores this question as it navigates a deep, dark sea of blood and the mental state of a man trapped in it.

Fans of David Szymanski’s game of the same title will know that they can expect a claustrophobic and shocking experience in the theater, but there’s more to be explored, and Markiplier does just that. Iron Lung is, in essence, a tale of despair from the perspective of a man with nothing left to lose, yet who still clings on to the prospect of survival.

The initial concern I had going in as a fan of Mark’s content was that I wouldn’t be able to separate Markiplier from Simon, the movie’s main character. He has such a unique onscreen presence in everything he’s done, from his let’s plays to In Space With Markiplier, to Unus Annus, that I was worried that no matter how good his performance was, I would only be able to see the goofy guy who crashed out while playing Getting Over It.

Luckily, I found this to be a non-issue, especially as the movie gets going. Early on, it feels like Mark hasn’t quite settled into being Simon, and moments where he starts yelling or getting frustrated certainly echo the man from YouTube, but he really manages to shed his online persona for one that’s compelling, despairing, and thoughtful. Mark’s acting carries the film, which is a must in a film where his character occupies the screen for almost the entire time.

When it comes to plot, Iron Lung, as a game, was arguably lacking, opting instead for a rich, suspenseful experience rather than a deep story. However, after playing through the game on his YouTube channel, Mark Fischbach felt there was more to explore. More character, more mystery, and so much more blood. Without spoilers, it’s safe to say that the film delivered.

Once the plot really gets moving and we start to see Simon grapple with his new reality, the audience is forced to journey along with him. The camera acts as a portal into his psyche, but Mark’s performance drove that feeling more than the camera ever could. Fans of his channel will have seen him get explosive before, but this was on a level quite unlike anything we’ve yet seen from him.

The camera placement is crucial to conveying Simon’s isolation throughout the movie. Even when he’s directly interacting with other characters face-to-face, the camera always remains inside the sub with him, forcing the viewer to feel as trapped and helpless as he does. The only time we see outside of the sub is through brief flashbacks or visions, and while the flashbacks add a bit of context and dimensionality to the character, they detract from that feeling of isolation.

Iron Lung‘s tension was greatly aided by its score, composed by Andrew Hulshult. There were no grand horns or complex strings, but rather a deep, unsettling, and suspenseful auditory experience that perfectly matched the film’s underlying intent. With his discography consisting of game soundtracks, he clearly understood the assignment of scoring a movie based on a horror game, leaving no part of the movie in need of accompaniment.

Unfortunately, there were still aspects of the movie that were a bit confusing. The dark cinematography, Dutch angles, and crackly PA system added to the atmosphere, but there were certainly moments when I felt like I was missing something because I couldn’t see or hear what was actually happening. Moments when I felt I should be able to see or hear something important were glazed over, as if Simon knew what was going on, leaving me feeling like I was missing out.

The overall plot felt somewhat difficult to follow due to these pitfalls, with some of the most important bits of context coming from a radio that skipped every other word. When I left the theater, my first thought was that the movie could’ve benefited from subtitles (something I truly never say), and I overheard other people saying the same thing.

Having seen Mark’s playthrough of Iron Lung, I understood exactly what he saw in the game that deserved expansion. It’s a slow burn, but one that I was compelled by from start to finish. Unfortunately, for those unfamiliar with the source material, I’m not sure the film had quite enough chops to keep someone engaged for the whole duration based solely on Mark’s acting and the stunning set design.

Iron Lung felt more like a true experience than any movie I’ve seen in recent memory. Viewers unfamiliar with the game or Mark’s channel might find themselves struggling to find answers by the time the runtime ticks down, but the film’s eerie atmosphere, great visual effects, and chilling score made it a thrilling ride that you can’t wait to see resolved. Like the game that inspired it, Iron Lung is an experience first and foremost. It should be seen on the largest screen possible, and maybe plan to see it twice, because I can’t stop thinking about it.