Simon’s prison is a rusted submarine, deep in a vast ocean of blood. Oxygen lowers as Simon fumbles through a maintenance manual he can barely read in the cramped darkness. Over the radio, an automated voice loops endlessly, warning about a critical hull breach. Driven to the point of madness, he screams at the top of his lungs as he hurls a fire extinguisher at the speaker. He is in desperate need of help, and he knows no one would care whether he lives or dies.
Mark Fischbach, best known by his internet pseudonym, Markiplier, is a household name within internet culture, known for his humorous gaming videos. His career in recent years has expanded beyond his traditional let’s-play content, especially with his recent directorial debut, “Iron Lung,” based on an indie video game of the same title. With a humble budget of $2 million, it has already made $21 million globally in under a week.
Set in a distant future, a dwindling portion of humanity survives aboard space stations after an event known as the “Quiet Rapture” destroyed contact with planets and star systems. The protagonist, Simon, predominantly referred to as “Convict” throughout the film, is arrested for his involvement in the destruction of a space station called Filament Station. As punishment, he is sent on a mission to descend into a moon’s vast ocean of blood and photograph the ocean floor.
Simon carries out this task inside a small submarine, ominously nicknamed the “Iron Lung,” which is welded shut from the outside. He has only a radio to communicate with the team on the surface, which regularly glitches and goes out as he reaches the bottom. As Simon continues his mission, unsettling recordings from previous convicts and unexplained sightings suggest a horrifying truth: he was never meant to come back.
At first, it was difficult to feel immersed in the film. Markiplier is such a recognizable celebrity that separating him from the character felt challenging. His performance felt stiff and a little unconvincing at first. However, as the film progresses, you can see that his acting improves dramatically. You can really feel the tension, and his performance feels far more natural than before.
Iram Beltran, a moviegoer who watched the same screening as I did, shared his thoughts on Markiplier’s evolving performance.
“The feel he gives and even his tone feels more like Markiplier in the world of ‘Iron Lung’ and less of a convict given a deadly task with no information … but by the second half, Mark shows how good a performance he can really give,” Beltran said. “The drastic improvement really pulls you in and recaptures your attention.”
The film makes good use of its confined setting through set design. Set designs, such as dripping leaks and rusty pipes, create a dark and uneasy atmosphere. While the film takes place entirely within the submarine’s room, this restriction is used to its advantage to heighten the tension and impossibility of escape.
Ben Taylor, vice president of the Wildcat Film Appreciation Society and long-time Markipler fan, praised the set designs in his Letterboxd review.
“It fully sells the environment to me by paying attention to every detail of the ship, and makes it intense as he attempts to manipulate the machine to live,” Taylor wrote.
Choosing “Iron Lung” was a smart move. Unlike if Markiplier had chosen to be a part of recent adaptations of massive franchises, such as “Minecraft” or “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” the small indie game allows Markiplier to take on a substantial role rather than a cheesy cameo for fans. The story feels fresh, and the unique choice gives sci-fi fans, video game enthusiasts and his fanbase reasons to watch.
“Iron Lung” has been critiqued for its many flaws. Some scenes feel rough, and the limited budget is clear in certain areas. Audiences are divided, with Rotten Tomatoes scoring the film a 44% from critics, while fans have responded much more positively at 89%. When you view the film as a passion project rather than comparing it to Hollywood films with massive budgets and teams, you can see Markiplier’s dedication and energy shine through.
Overall, “Iron Lung” is really ambitious and engaging. While the first half struggles with immersion, the second half shows Markiplier’s growth as an actor. The claustrophobic design and sets, along with the choice of source material, make it a unique watch. While the movie is nowhere near perfect, Markiplier’s passion and effort make it worth watching, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars from me.
