By Haley Zeller, Arts & Entertainment Editor
You’re alone in a submarine, tasked with exploring the depths of an unventured ocean, when blood starts leaking from the ceiling.
Inspired by David Szymanski’s video game of the same name, the film Iron Lung dips into our greatest, extraterrestrial fears. After an event called “The Quiet Rapture,” all but a few scraps of the universe are wiped out. On a moon housing an ocean of blood, a convict is sent down in a submarine to explore and map out the ocean floor. However, Simon’s will to live and return to the surface is constantly challenged, not only by the scientists sending him down, but the anomalies that lurk in the ocean.
Iron Lung is no doubt an indie project with a unique premise. I appreciated it for deviating from common sci-fi and fantasy tropes. The creators were unafraid to get abstract and make you question the vastness of the universe, as well as what powers exist outside our minimal knowledge. Though this movie isn’t for everyone, I think audiences can appreciate its distinctive story and isolating atmosphere. Not only that, but it differs from movies with large casts by focusing on a single protagonist and very few side characters. With this movie, the phrase “less is more” truly shines.
The film was written and directed by Mark Fischbach, commonly known as the content creator Markiplier. He also starred in the movie as the character Simon. Most of the movie’s scenes consist of Simon staring at a screen and contemplating his next move. For what most people would consider a non-dynamic plot, Mark is perfectly capable of making it interesting. From the moment he’s welded inside the submarine, you feel a sense of claustrophobia and wonder whether this cramped submarine could become his coffin.
Simon’s main objective is to take pictures of the ocean using a radioactive, x-ray camera that can capture images through blood. Without giving away any spoilers (because you should definitely go see this!) the camera captures skeletal atrocities that seemingly shift after each picture. These short bursts are the only glimpse Simon gets of the world around him. Primal fears come to life amidst his solitude, which is broken only by staticky voices through the speaker depending on the submarine’s location.
As the movie progresses, we learn more about Simon’s faults, regrets, and backstory. His desperation and anger are portrayed incredibly well, and whether we believe he was justly convicted or not, his emotions translate to us beyond the screen. He grapples with betrayal and the overwhelming feeling of meaninglessness in an unfathomably dark universe.
Though Iron Lung is considered horror, I would argue that it isn’t scary in typical horror-movie fashion. The real terror comes from the unpredictable “nature” of humans, and the terrifying realization that we are a minute, irrelevant cog in the universe’s workings. The phrase “it’s bigger than me,” applies to just about every sequence in the movie. But what does this mean for humanity? Should the last traces of humanity surrender and die off, or should they cling to any small hope? The movie leaves that up to our interpretation.
Whether or not you’re a sci-fi nerd like me, this film is definitely worth seeing. Iron Lung deconstructs the typical movie format by offering an entirely unique, philosophical, and thought-evoking narrative. It also breaks boundaries for indie films and video game adaptations; During its debut weekend, the film made six times its $3 million dollar budget at the box office.
I was really excited by Iron Lung, and I hope to see more video game adaptations and unique concepts brought to life in its wake.