In today’s world, indie products in entertainment are gaining vast notoriety and praise. Not only that, but the genre itself is evolving. Case in point, look at the new film “Iron Lung.” Created by Mark Edward Fischbach, better known as the YouTuber Markiplier, this film was not only self-funded, but it was also self-distributed, written, directed, and edited, it even starred Fischbach as the protagonist.
On Dec. 5, 2025, Fischbach announced he booked 50-100 independent theaters to show his film, but because he wanted more people to see it, he gave his fans a call to action. He encouraged them to contact their local theaters directly and request screenings. This grassroots effort was so effective that major chains such as AMC, Regal Cinemas and Cinemark began receiving dozens of polite but persistent calls and feedback forms within hours of his request. In just a few weeks, “Iron Lung” went from 60 to 4,000+ screens.
The film is an adaptation of the video game Iron Lung, created by David Szymanski. It follows a convicted prisoner named Simon who must navigate a sea of blood in a dinky and cramped rust bucket of a submarine called the “Iron Lung.” He must follow commands directed by Ava, played by actress Caroline Kaplan, in order to earn back his freedom, but as he navigates the crimson depths, something ominous and otherworldly is lurking. Fans of the game will be pleased to know that the film is a faithful adaptation of the original game, only with some added plotlines.
One major aspect that surprised me was the cinematography. It was impressively effective in telling the story, with a great balance of different shots and superb quality. For being an indie film, it really looked and felt like a major motion picture. Fischbach had done similar projects prior to this movie, such as his interactive and narrative-driven series, “In Space with Markiplier” and “A Heist with Markiplier” on YouTube, and while those had high budgets, the perspectives were always point of views. This film is a stark contrast from those, and I was impressed. Segueing into his acting, it was an effective performance. While not amazing, he was able to hold his own on the big screen through the entire runtime of the film. It is worth noting that 97% of the film takes place in one location, so for him to come off as believable was surprising. His performance grounded the experimental cinematography, making the isolation feel real. Fischbach took it upon himself to star as the lead in the film for two reasons: creative control and personal growth. In an article by Variety, Fischbach expressed why he decided to wear so many hats for this passion project of his.
“I wrote the character doing some pretty uncomfortable, messed-up things. I thought, ‘If I’m going to write this, I’ll put myself through it. I don’t really want anyone else to suffer for the sake of this, besides myself.’”
Because of his many efforts, starring in it allowed him to personally execute the punishing and claustrophobic tone he envisioned for the character. Speaking of tone, the film’s versatility of practical effects was very impressive to me. The costumes, makeup, the sub’s devices and even how it was being affected by the creature, all immersed me into the film. The pacing is a slow burner, but I see that as a strength. I believe it is deliberately slow because it translates that patience from the game and is designed to make the audience endure the same claustrophobic dread as Simon. Lastly, the expansion of world-building was a welcoming addition. The original game is bare-bones, short, and purposely mysterious, so with the added changes and additions such as a backstory for the protagonist and a different interpretation for the monster, it captivated me to keep watching.
As much as I tried, it was difficult to immerse myself. Fischbach’s performance can be a hindrance to this film, and that is because he is synonymous with YouTube. Since 2012, Fischbach has been building and amassing an enormous fanbase. In almost all of his videos, he entertains with his high-energy commentary, and that candid personality. He is an authentic person, but now he has elevated to a new level, and it is jarring to witness. It was hard to see the character he was playing, because I have always seen him as Markiplier. In the first 30 minutes, it almost felt like one of his interactive series, however, in the second and even third acts, his acting felt more natural, and I started to see Simon instead of Markiplier. Next is the story. The movie is accurate to the game, which is a strength, but I did not like that story. I do appreciate the new creative and experimental ideas Fischbach came up with, but it is still bleak and not satisfying for me. A primary issue was the dialogue and its clarity. While not prevalent, there were noticeable moments throughout the film where the sound mixing came off as drowned-out. In dialogue exchanges, it was hard to understand what the characters were even saying to one another, which was a nuisance for me. Lastly, it was not particularly scary. The film does create a dreadful and claustrophobic atmosphere, using subtlety to ramp up the climactic final act, and I liked this approach, but it just felt unsettling, likely portraying the fear of the unknown as its selling point.
To close, this movie is a dark horse. It is astounding to see an indie creator disrupt the manufactured approach of Hollywood marketing, by relying on their own community and succeeding. Truly a triumphant story. What I liked most about it was that I did not have to suspend my disbelief. In adaptation films, studios often use the characters’ likeness but have to limit them for reasons like the narrative, condensing lore, and even maintaining tonal consistency. “Iron Lung,” however, is one-note. There is not a lot known about how that world came to be, which unironically made me adore this movie. I did not need to harken back to game logic because I could believe what was being shown. This was a respectable effort by Fischbach and is a passion project down to its roots. It is a film made by fans for the fans and I believe you should take a chance on it. Congratulations Markiplier, you made the future of indie more promising.
