Title – Iron Lung (2026)

Director – Mark Fischbach/Markiplier (feature debut)

Cast – Mark Fischbach, Caroline Kaplan, Troy Baker

Plot – In the midst of a desperate post-apocalyptic future, convict Simon (Fischbach) is sent in a rundown submarine known as “Iron Lung” to explore a distant moon that holds rivers of blood and the potential of mankind’s salvation.  

“I just want to live. Is that so wrong?”

Review by Eddie on 06/07/2026

A key contributor to 2026 establishing itself as the year of horror and Hollywood entering into a whole new era, the self-funded Iron Lung, a passion project for YouTube sensation Markiplier (real name Mrak Fischbach), has been a runaway success for the debut filmmaker who has turned $3 million dollars of his own investment into a $50 million dollar plus hit that eschewed the usual pathway to cinemas around the world on its way to making its mark.

An adaptation of the indie horror game of the same name, Lung is a minimalistic film that takes place entirely within the confines of Fischbach’s convict Simon’s rickety space submarine that is sent down into the depths of a mysterious blood-filled planet to discover the mysteries that lay within as Earth as we know it has been destroyed and mankind decimated.

Not a film for those that may suffer any forms of claustrophobia, Lung does struggle throughout to justify its two-hour running time, with multiple sections candidates to have tighter edits from Fischbach and his production team, while Fischbach’s clear passion doesn’t cover up the fact his limited acting range leaves much to be desired as he tries and steers the film on its way as the main face of all the odd happenings.

It’s hard to be to upset with a film that has been born out of such commitment and goodwill and Fischbach’s enhancement of what is at its core a relatively basic game is commendable, giving larger scope to a film that has a lot of grand ideas that would be worthy to explore in greater depth but for anyone like myself who isn’t a follower of Markiplier’s brand or the game on which this film comes from, there’s a limit to ones enjoyment from this film that does at times feel like an enhanced version of a student film.

Pacing issues aside, with Lung potentially being the perfect 80-to-90-minute feature, there’s not a lot to invest ourselves into here as Simon talks to himself or voices coming from a speaker and looks at x-ray photos of underwater worlds, and any one man show type films of this ilk really need us to care for our central protagonist, a component that Lung never manages to get right.

Showing that with the right amount of energy, effort and determination, anything can happen, there’s reasons to celebrate Lung’s final product but based off this experience one wonders if Fischbach’s range and scope for improvement is limited or if learnings from Lung’s shortcomings would allow him to deliver something more notable if he went behind and in front of the camera once more.

Final Say –

A decent if deeply flawed exercise in passion (and money) making dreams become a reality, Iron Lung has its wins but is also filled with shortfalls, making for a watchable if rough ride to the blood-filled depths.

2 1/2 sweaty submarines out of 5