Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach’s debut film, “Iron Lung,” which he both directs and stars in, was released globally on Jan 30, 2026 in theaters. The film, inspired by the game of the same name, depicts a death-row convict exploring an ocean of blood in a small, compact submarine. The horror movie takes a more psychological route, focusing more on tricking the viewers and leaving them with many questions.
We follow Simon’s journey through the blood ocean as he ventures to various coordinates to gather data and take photos. This data is sent to others to help them figure out what caused the ocean to appear, along with other mysteries.
His only communication when submerged is through a speaker, which becomes unreliable the further down he goes. Simon also experiences many issues in the sub as time goes on, causing him physical issues and mental distress.
This movie is unique in terms of setting. Instead of exploring different parts of the world outside the submarine, the viewer is trapped inside with Simon. Viewers are only able to see the outside world through the submarine’s window and the photos taken by the submarine. This helps put you inside of Simon’s head, as you’re only given as much information as he is, and you experience everything that happens with him.
“Iron Lung” goes for more of a psychological horror Blair-Witch-esque style. The pacing is a lot slower, and instead of having unexpected jump scares that startles the viewer, there is a larger focus on refraining information and slowly building tension. This leaves many questions for the viewer, and compels multiple viewings.
Although the pacing may be slower, that doesn’t decrease the quality of the story the movie tells. If the concept of diving into a blood ocean doesn’t already pique the viewer’s interest, there are many more twists and surprises throughout the story. From mysterious lights to shifting skulls, the story is definitely a highlight of “Iron Lung.”
Even with slower pacing, the movie still manages to do a lot with its setting and tells a compelling story. For his directorial debut, Fischbach did an astounding job and made a unique addition to the horror genre.