Deep beneath the surface of a moon, in an ocean of writhing blood, the protagonist, Simon, is tasked with exploring the sea in exchange for his freedom after being convicted of a serious crime. Welded into a dilapidated claustrophobic submarine known as “The Iron Lung”, Simon’s only view of the outside world is through an X-ray camera installed in the machine.
This is the plot of the 2022 sci-fi cosmic horror video game Iron Lung and its 2026 movie of the same name. Originally, the video game was created by indie game developer David Szymanski, and saw an increase in popularity when admired YouTuber, Markiplier, or Mark Fischbach, posted his playthroughs of the game.
Fischbach expressed his love for the game, later reaching out to Szymanski, seeking approval for a movie adaptation of the video game. Motivated by his long-standing love for horror and filmmaking, expressed in many of his personal indie projects posted online, Fischbach sought to direct and star in the upcoming film. After gaining approval from Szymanski, the two collaborated to create the movie, with Fischbach self-financing, directing, producing, and starring in the film. It was eventually released on January 30th, 2026.
Fischbach initially announced that the film would have a limited release, planning to appear in only 60 independent US theatres. However, due to overwhelming demand and support from his fans, the film was eventually released in 4,161 theatres internationally. The film saw wide success, despite a $3 million budget; it grossed about $37.2 million in its first two weeks. Additionally, the film garnered attention for breaking the world record for the most fake blood in a movie, using over 80,000 gallons. This spurred theatres to partner with local blood donation centres, encouraging viewers to donate. Within a week, about 37,000 blood donations were received.
Despite the evident success, the movie saw mixed reviews online, averaging 61% on Rotten Tomatoes. Spanning 2 hours and 4 minutes, Iron Lung falls into the slow-burn category. Critics argued that the movie felt languid at numerous points, with the major horror aspects being fleeting or disorienting. However, even with its flaws, it’s an incredibly strong indie film overall, and a very faithful adaptation that many fans of the video game appreciate.
The cosmic horror elements, especially the creatures within, while brief, were beautifully done. The film was unique in that it relied on practical effects rather than computer-generated ones, requiring a lot of attentive cinematography in order to create a more immersive viewing experience. This gives the effect that the viewers are sharing the cramped submarine with Simon, experiencing the consistent, ever-growing intensity as his oxygen meter ticks down. If there’s one thing that Iron Lung earned a gold star in, it’s the ability it has at building up such a suffocating anxiety, prolonged until the very last shot of the movie.
While the film wasn’t perfect, it’s an outstanding breakout feature-length movie for Fischbach, fueled by dedication and formidable passion. Iron Lung’s exceptional success rewrites the possibilities for future indie films and will serve as an inspiration for like-minded creatives for years to come.
