Iron Lung (2026)
Directed by: Markiplier (Mark Fischbach)
Premise: An adaptation of the video game. Set in a postapocalyptic future, a convict is ordered to pilot a rickety submarine and explore a lunar ocean. He discovers evidence of something living.
What Works: Video game movies typically build upon the stories and characters that are familiar to players and recreate the game-like qualities through the visual style. The game Iron Lung is essentially a submarine simulation in a horror context. The submarine operator is inside a vessel with no windows and he must navigate with charts. The film adaptation of Iron Lung recreates that specific quality and it makes for a compelling movie. The story centers on Simon, a convict who has been ordered to investigate an ocean of blood from inside a submersible. The vessel has x-ray cameras that produce grainy black and white images but Simon is otherwise dependent on his charts and the radio feedback from the topside crew. The filmmakers turn those limitations into a compelling mystery. The horror of Iron Lung is Lovecraftian; Simon encounters terrible mysteries of the universe. Iron Lung is quite tense and has a vivid visual style. The submarine is worn down and leaky, seeming like it might implode at any minute. Everything looks wet and grimy and the lighting and cinematography create a sense of dirty claustrophobia. Simon is played by Mark Fischbach who is the only actor on screen through most of the movie. He’s extremely watchable. Simon is in a desperate situation and Fischbach’s performance is raw and anxious.
What Doesn’t: There is a difference between being artfully ambiguous and being incoherent. Iron Lung oscillates between the two. The film is a mystery and it’s admirable how much the filmmakers trust the audience to make sense of what we’re seeing without overly explaining everything. However, Iron Lung might have benefitted from more explanation. Simon’s quest into the blood ocean is already ambiguous. We’re not quite sure what he’s looking for and it seems Simon isn’t entirely clear about that either. When he finds the wreckage of missing submarine, Simon is ordered to connect to the vessel’s black box. The secret contained therein could save what’s left of humanity and success will earn Simon his freedom. There’s enough exposition to create dramatic stakes but the larger implications of the action are left ambiguous. The imagery of Iron Lung varies. Much of the movie is dark and gritty and occasionally artful but some shots are murky and it’s difficult to follow the action.
Bottom Line: Iron Lung is a mostly well made work of cosmic horror and it ought to play for fans of the game and for newbies. It also expands our understanding of what a video game adaptation can be.
Episode: #1087 (February 15, 2026)