Spoiler Warning
When every light fades away, passion shines through. Written, directed and starred in by Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach, “Iron Lung” bleeds with passion, stitched together by an ever-constricting environment, intimate camera work and an eerie storyline. Despite being crafted by a YouTube megastar and based on an indie game, the film stands on its own. However, slow-burning scenes smudge what would otherwise be a clean watch.
The flick opens with an explanation of the world that raises more questions than it resolves. Every star has disappeared, and humanity is on the brink of annihilation. The viewer joins Fischbach in a ramshackle submarine as it descends into an ocean of blood. The dark, confined space is where the camera and Fischbach largely remain for the entire two-hour run time. The scene is initially as dark as his character’s understanding of it, only guided by the unfamiliar voice of Caroline Kaplan over a speaker.
The submarine’s interior is industrial, lined almost entirely with metal, with pipes and wiring plastered where the walls meet the ceiling. Fishbach’s character is isolated from the outside. All he has to work with is a desk with a radon-green digital compass, a dial to turn the vehicle and a lever to accelerate. On the other side of the compartment is a large, glowing button capturing a black and white, usually unintelligible image of the outside that quickly fades.
The minimalist setting emphasizes the few details that do exist: a drop of sweat on Fischbach’s face, a flash and churning blood in the background. It also juxtaposes high-velocity scenes, allowing them to shine. Every subtle change leaves the viewer on the edge of their seat, unsure if it spells the end for Fischbach.
The camera jumps around within the submersible, further enclosing the audience in an already claustrophobic environment. He is welded into the vehicle with no way out, oxygen dwindling and blood slowly oozing into the submarine. The film is an incomplete puzzle, deliberately leaving the viewer as lost as the character.
The film is carried by Fischbach’s performance, as he inevitably dominates a majority of the film thanks to his claustrophobic surroundings. His acting is paired with on-point sound design, anxious atmosphere and subtle scene changes. His performance is certainly not A-list worthy, but he far exceeds expectations, giving an understanding of how truly terrible his circumstances are.
Following Fischbach’s change in mood is an easy task. His despair pours through the screen as his hope waxes and wanes. The film curates a foreign situation, but an all too understandable character.
What truly makes the film are the few moments where the outside is clearly visible. Flashes of what went wrong in his character’s life, glimpses of the stars, false visions within the submarine and wide shots showing the ocean do much-needed work to disrupt slow moments and deliver shocking spectacles.
That being said, the movie’s title and premise become a death trap. The audience is trapped by the two hour and seven minute runtime, unfortunately making the riveting camera work repetitive and cumbersome. Cutting 20 minutes would have been perfectly pleasing.
Regardless, “Iron Lung” is a testament to independent filmmaking in an era of boring sequels and offers a worthwhile theatre watch at Regal Huebner Oaks until Feb. 12.
