Iron Lung (2026) Review
Words: Arete Noctua, Film Features Editor & Writer @ Féroce Magazine
A surprisingly ambitious single-location horror thriller, Mark Fischbach writes, directs, edits, produces, and stars in this adaptation of David Szymanski’s 2022 indie game of the same name. After an extinction event known as The Quiet Rapture extinguishes light and life across the universe, leaving no habitable planets, the remains of humanity struggle to survive aboard a handful of space stations. As Simon, a convict given a mission he is not expected to return from, Fischbach traps us alongside him for the duration, taking a deep dive into an ocean of blood discovered on a seemingly lifeless moon.
Set entirely within the cockpit of a cobbled-together submarine, with Simon as the sole protagonist, Iron Lung lacks the strength to fully carry its premise to the finish line without some fairly glaring hull breaches. Simon lacks the depth and dimension required for us to feel invested in his struggle for survival. His backstory, told through numerous drip-fed flashbacks and hallucinated voiceovers, details the guilt he carries over his involvement with a rebel group that caused the destruction of a space station. It feels bland and lacking in emotional weight. He is almost as flat a protagonist as the voiceless avatar from Szymanski’s game. Fischbach certainly gives it his all, and while his performance often feels weak, it is difficult to deny that his charisma and earnestness still carry through.
Fischbach taking on so many roles in the creation of Iron Lung highlights where the project could have benefited from the skillsets of more seasoned filmmakers. The cosmic horror and nightmarish mysteries lurking within the bloody depths are explored muddily, and the story lacks clarity to the point that it is often difficult to grasp what is happening as a whole. Verbose lore dumps, delivered primarily through voiceover rather than action, do little to help, instead further obfuscating the narrative. These issues are compounded by the film’s bloated feel, with pacing lulls that grind momentum to a halt. The lack of an external editor is keenly felt here, not only in pacing, but in shot construction itself. Unnecessary returns to narrative points where the action has already occurred, and quick, jarring cuts away from the focus of a scene to unrelated imagery, disrupt rather than enhance the atmosphere.
Iron Lung can be gruelling to sit through when these flaws are most concentrated. That said, it is not without strengths. There is genuine passion at the heart of the film, and several moments successfully capture the tension of being trapped, mostly blind, in a deep oceanic hellscape. Much of this tension is driven by the central mechanic of an X-ray camera as the only means of seeing beyond the submarine’s walls, taking single still images of what lies ahead. As a method of drip-feeding the audience glimpses of unseen horrors, it is an effective one. The flash of light and the slowly fading image beyond the creaking hull are genuinely arresting. Strong sound design and an excellent soundtrack further heighten the atmosphere, helping to carry weaker narrative moments. Endless gallons of fake blood being poured across every surface also provide undeniable visual fun.
Overall, Iron Lung is deeply flawed but not without much to recommend it. Fischbach brings a massive fanbase from his YouTube career, and this low-budget amateur debut has received a level of mass distribution typically reserved for much larger studio horror releases. His decision to self-distribute in the US potentially signals an emerging alternative path for film production and distribution. Even as an experiment in this regard, the film is fascinating. There is a great deal to admire here. Flawed, yes, but regularly entertaining. Fischbach taking on every major creative role is genuinely impressive, even if it also appears to be the primary reason the film falters. With a dedicated creative team around him, there is little doubt he could deliver horror where the terror and tension fully translate.
Our Take
A flawed but worthy debut from one of YouTube’s biggest names. Lagging in many places and often showing its seams, Iron Lung nonetheless shines in moments thanks to a strong premise and the earnest passion behind it. Even as an example of how much can be achieved with a small budget and an audacious idea, it remains impressive. It is simply a shame that Fischbach did not have stronger writing and editing collaborators to help refine the areas where the execution struggles most.