The film is based on a relatively niche video game of the same name, which was made by solo developer David Szymanski (who helped with the film's screenplay) and is set inside a submarine exploring an ocean of blood. We follow exactly the same premise here as our protagonist, a convict named Simon, spends the entire runtime welded into a decrepit submersible on a distant moon trying to earn his freedom. What his superiors are specifically looking for is unclear but he is told the blood ocean holds resources vital to the survival of mankind, who has been pushed to the brink of extinction by an event referred to as "The Quiet Rapture".
Fischbach really is all in on this project, he writes, directs, and stars. Pretty ballsy for someone who has built their career on small scale videos that mostly revolve around playing video games for an audience. Still, given he self-financed the whole thing to the tune of around $3 million he can do what he likes.
By using his considerable internet presence to get word out, one thing he hasn't had to spend on is marketing, and he does a fantastic job of making sure every penny spent is visible on screen. There is very little in the way of CG and the film has apparently set a new world record for the amount of fake blood used ( a facet of its setting, the film isn't a gore fest). It's a one location movie so the scale is small but the practical effects give everything a real weighty, broken down industrial, feel to it that matches the humanity on its last legs vibe.
The tone is set early on as an ominous voiceover lays out the story while the submarine is lowered into the claret depths, this film intends to give you a hard time. Soon we're inside the titular Iron Lung and we don't leave again. Simon's only way of viewing the outside world is through the grainy images of a static camera, ramping up the sense of claustrophobia. He is also isolated, with no radio communication for most of the runtime and rising heat, depleting oxygen and potential leaks to worry about. All that is before we get to the Lovecraftian horrors potentially lurking beyond the rickety walls. Atmosphere is definitely Iron Lung's strong suit.
The actual plot is its weakest. With abstract nature of the set-up and feeling of human insignificance, the film conjures up ideas of philosophical sci-fi classics but this is no Solaris. In fact, it doesn't really offer anything beyond the premise and there is a fair bit of padding to stretch the runtime to feature length. There were always going to be issues translating such a bare bones story into a film, it's inherently less entertaining to watch somebody deal with a video game situation than engage with it yourself, but the sparse dialogue could at least have been punched up a bit.
In terms of delivering said dialogue, Fischbach largely does a good job. He has good "movie voice", although there is the odd occasion when he comes across as flat, and he throws himself into the physical side of the performance with gusto. There are other cast members, including video game voiceover supremo Troy Baker and the game's creator, but it's mostly a one man show.
One man show really is the name of the game here and you get the impression Fischbach has made exactly what he set out to make, an atmospheric, faithful representation of a game that captured his imagination. Given its slow pace and lack of depth, or in your face scares, it might not be exactly what a larger audience would have wanted.
6 litres of blood out of 10
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