The stars have gone. The planets have disappeared. The moons are empty. Well, almost empty. On one particular moon, an ocean of blood resides. Humanity seeks hope for its survival within this moon. But in a world like Iron Lung, hope is as illusory as the void. This basic premise, once a simple indie video game, is now an internationally recognized film that has enthralled moviegoers. What’s crazier is the film was self-financed, written, directed, and acted in by YouTube star, Mark Fischbach, also known as Markiplier. A successful film from an already successful man due to its great usage of horror and relatable characterization.
Mark is best known for his gaming content, which propelled him to fame in the content-creation landscape. However, he had participated in mediums outside of YouTube. His ‘A Heist With Markiplier’ and ‘In Space With Markiplier’ choose-your-own-adventure series were massive successes with very positive reactions to them. He also starred in a TV show called ‘The Edge of Sleep’, another successful output. But none of these would quite match the impact of his first-ever feature film.
Iron Lung is a movie based on a video game, by David Syzmanski, Mark had played and immensely enjoyed. So much so, he had decided to adapt it into a movie. The process to make it was grueling work, but in the end, the film was released after three years of production. To Mark, and everyone’s surprise, the movie shot itself into over 4000 theatres across the world thanks to his dedicated fanbase. The film then became the number 1 movie in America and in several other countries.
Now, it’s an impressive film solely from its development and financial success, but how is the film itself? Well, it’s a bit complicated. Iron Lung does not function as a traditional horror film would. There are no chase scenes, no setting changes and no jumpscares. It’s more of a slow burn that relies heavily on building tension to keep you on edge. Strange noises can constantly be heard throughout the film, but it’s never shown where these noises are coming from. The incredible score by Andrew Hulshult only adds to this dreadful atmosphere. This is the technique that entertains the viewer throughout most of its two-hour runtime.
The film also heavily relies on Mark himself as the crux off this entire film, as he is the main star and one of the only actors ever seen on screen. Needless to say, he carries this film with a surprisingly good performance that truly embodies the character of Simon. It isn’t always great, but the few blips he has here and there are pretty minor in his overall role. The additional voice actors that can be heard throughout the film also provide some great performances that add some variety to help keep it from ever feeling boring.
A major criticism of Iron Lung is that it can oftentimes be hard to understand what’s truly going on. While, yes, in sporadic moments, the dialogue being said becomes hard to hear, the story itself is actually quite comprehensible if the viewer simply pays close attention. It can be incredibly bizarre at times, with quick cuts to flashbacks of Simon’s past and very cosmic horror-esque sequences. Not everything shown to the audience is explained, but it doesn’t always need to be. And that’s thanks to the characterization of the protagonist, Simon.
Simon is a man with a simple, yet gripping motivation: to live. He is sent down in this claustrophobic submarine not to be set free, but to die alone. Every decision he makes ties back to his desire to live and earn his freedom. Even when seemingly all hope is lost, he continues to find methods that allow him a chance to keep living. This characterization is essential for getting the audience to care about Simon, and it works. By giving him such a relatable motivation, the viewer is able to connect and sympathize with Simon.
Again, this film is a slow burn and very abstract, so whether or not it works for the viewer is entirely dependent on their personal taste. Still, it’s hard to deny how influential this film is from its gigantic box office success alone. Iron Lung is a true showcase of a YouTuber who put actual effort into a film and achieved something beyond his original goals. It defies the many tropes and trappings of the different genres this film falls under. It’s a successful video game movie, a successful horror movie and a successful YouTuber movie.
