Markiplier’s “Iron Lung” is suffocatingly tense in its presentation of cosmic horror and was visibly loved in its filmmaking process. The movie is a passion project, set behind a relatively low-budget, yet accomplishing so much in a limited space. I was predisposed to liking this movie since I’ve been a long-time Markiplier fan.
Markiplier is a well-known YouTuber with 38.4 million subscribers. He directed, produced and acted for “Iron Lung.” He’s most known for his Five Nights at Freddy’s playthroughs among other video game series.
With only a budget of around 4 million dollars, it made $50 million worldwide according to The Numbers. It was released to 4,164 screens upon opening, and the movie was distributed by Markiplier himself (Variety). “Iron Lung” was originally a video game released on Steam, a major digital distribution platform, by indie game creator David Szymanski. It was then adapted into the movie by Markiplier. “Iron Lung” takes place within one location: a rickety submarine welded shut. The protagonist is a convict named Simon, played by Markiplier, who aims to earn his freedom by exploring the depths of a blood-ocean within the submarine. He navigates the eerie environment solely by a flash of a camera, numeric coordinates, and a barely working intercom.
Despite the limited space and stationary setting, the film does a great job at getting creative with its shots. Extreme close-up shots on the dials and gauges of the submarine’s dank interior keep the atmosphere tense. The use of reflections within the glass and metal utilities are creative and relentlessly disorienting. It feels infinitely claustrophobic and holds its punches until the very end of the film.
“Iron Lung” also utilizes the protagonist’s isolation within the submarine to tackle themes of preserving humanity and the meaning of survival in the face of existential crises and unexplainable phenomena. Within the sci-fi wonders of the film’s setting lies an incredibly powerful statement about the persistence of life.
The film has a running sense of dread throughout its entirety and keeps the pressure building up until the very last minute. While fans of Markiplier are the target audience, the acting was a little subpar in places. Being able to see past Markiplier’s YouTuber persona and see the character he’s playing instead can be tricky at times. His acting starts off a little wobbly, but progresses to feel more natural throughout the film. There’s undeniably a lot of raw talent that shines through in his performance, however.
At times dialogue is a bit awkward and the audio mixing (at least, in theaters) felt muddled, especially toward the end. It could be an intentional choice, but some conversations over the intercom that seemed important didn’t sound clear enough. Some crucial information about the plot could have been easily missed.
“Iron Lung” has its flaws, but it’s one of—if not the most—authentic and passion-driven projects in the industry at the moment and is definitely a worthwhile watch. Demonstrated by Markiplier’s community through the overwhelming support of his movie, “Iron Lung” is a beacon of hope for upcoming filmmakers. It shows that genuine passion for filmmaking and commitment to the audience will always have a place on the big screen.
