The story of the sensational film begins with an indie developer named David Szymanski. He is primarily known for the boomer shooter DUSK. The game was inspired by classics of the genre: DOOM, BLOOD, and Quake, and it captivated fans with its hardcore gameplay. Those familiar with David's work are awaiting the release of Gloomwood from early access — an immersive simulator where you have to survive and stealthily eliminate opponents.
The gameplay of the horror game Iron Lung is less dynamic. The player finds themselves in the role of a death row inmate who is placed in a submarine to explore an ocean of blood. There are no portholes in the submarine — you can only see what's outside with a camera. You have to move blindly, be scared of every rustle, and wait for the results of the photos.
The game gained fame thanks to the story of its world, where humanity has successfully colonized the galaxy. Suddenly, a cataclysm called the "Quiet Rapture" occurred, resulting in the disappearance of stars and planets. Only people living on orbital stations and spaceships survived. An ocean of blood was discovered on one of the surviving moons, where the remnants of humanity hoped to find the key to salvation — and that's where the protagonist is sent.
The gloomy world attracted fans of the eerie and mysterious, as well as YouTuber Mark Fischbach (Markiplier). Mark played a significant role in popularizing the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise. With Iron Lung, he went further and decided to personally sponsor and make a film based on the game — the creation of the film began in February 2023.
Mark enlisted the support of David Szymanski and assembled a team of enthusiasts. A special container was used to simulate being in a submarine. 300,000 liters of artificial blood were needed for the scenes of the bloody ocean. Mark himself, playing the prisoner, was dipped into it. The music was written by Andrew Hulshult, known for the soundtracks to DUSK, Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods, Prodeus, Amid Evil, as well as the remasters of Heretic and Hexen.
The team's task was to faithfully adapt what happens in the game, but few people would be interested in watching the inside of a submarine for two hours. Therefore, tricks and effects were used to create a sense of hopelessness and claustrophobia. The tension was maintained by eerie sounds and reminders of running out of oxygen. The feeling of danger was supported by collisions with invisible obstacles, equipment failure, and the slow filling of the submarine with blood.
The main difference lies in the portrayal of the protagonist. In the game, it is the player's avatar, devoid of personality. In the film, the prisoner, played by Mark, received a full backstory — he was nicknamed the Butcher for the massacre he committed. The hero's conversations with people on the surface allow you to learn more about the survivors, their beliefs, and their search for ways to escape. Over time, the protagonist begins to experience hallucinations and communicate with entities from the bloody ocean. The intrigue created makes you wonder: "Is all this really happening? Or is it the product of the protagonist's imagination?"
Mark relied on the charisma and power of his personal brand to promote the finished product. He actively used his audience of 38 million people to spread the word about the film's release. During screenings, he appeared in random cinemas to chat with fans. At the same time, a campaign was held where viewers were offered to become blood donors.
The result exceeded all expectations and forecasts. By the end of February, the film had grossed over $50 million on a budget of less than $3 million. On the day of release, Iron Lung was in first place in the USA, but later disappeared from the chart of The Numbers website — one of the key aggregators of box office data. Upon its return, the film was already in second place, losing to Sam Raimi's horror film Send Help. What happened could have been sabotage by major distributors, but this did not prevent Mark from sincerely rejoicing that his project topped the box office.
Outcome of the Story
The success of the film Iron Lung became a bright event in the war for viewers' attention. One person driven by enthusiasm proved that if everything is done correctly, people will be interested in watching the protagonist suffer hallucinations in a submarine for two hours.
This approach goes against most films, where they constantly joke and blow things up to keep the audience's attention. Too many directors believe that movies will only be watched when they are transparent, simple, and understandable, as well as full of "correct" political content. Therefore, it is nice that there are authors like Mark who respect the intelligence of their viewers.
In my opinion, the film turned out to be high-quality. It is worth watching if you want to be scared before going to bed. It is nice to notice many small details that help with understanding what is happening. But it is difficult to watch the protagonist himself. And it's not that Mark played his role badly! It's just that after so many years, you get used to him as a positive YouTuber, which makes it difficult to perceive him as a maniac-butcher who is going (or not going?) crazy in a remote submarine, swimming in an ocean of blood.