Iron Lung is a new film based upon the videogame of the same name – which I haven’t played, and is written, directed and has its lead actor as Mark Fischbach – aka Markiplier – a Youtuber whose content I’ve never seen, but then I don’t go for chatty ‘effluencers’ who are jumping about all over the place like they’re hepped up on goofballs.
Still, he’s surprisingly reasonable in his role.
We’re in a post-apocalyptic world at the end of humanity, after an event known as “The Quiet Rapture”, and instead of going to prison for a crime he didn’t commi… oh wait, he did.
As Simon, he destroyed a space station, causing a radiation leak, and by means of penance an alternative to prison, he’s sent down to a blood-covered moon in what’s referred to as an ‘iron lung’ because it’s a tiny submersible that’s as comfortable to use as a leather reclining chair isn’t. He must collect samples of whatever’s down there, and as long as he returns to the surface and the company are happy with what he’s holding, he’ll be freed.
Sorted, right?
Not quite, because he can barely see what’s going on out there, through a miniscule viewfinder showing just still images from a crap camera. Plus, while he’s trying to use controls to get samples of what’s out there, there’s something that drips which is trying to get in, and he’s also hearing various other disembodied voices.
Hence, Iron Lung has the potential to be interesting, but – and maybe it’s because I haven’t played the game – it’s monumentally tedious and it drags like there’s no tomorrow. Seems like it should’ve been a Black Mirror episode, instead, but then from a $3m self-financed budget, he’s taken $48m at the box office, so we’ll no doubt get more of this.
Maybe I need to sit through it again, to see if it stirs any feelings in me, other than narcolepsy.
NOTE: There are no mid- nor post-credit scenes, but you can check out MY Youtube channel here 😀
Iron Lung is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
You can buy the game on Steam.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 125 minutes
Release date: January 30th 2026
Studio: Shear Entertainment
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (Redcode RAW (8K))
Rating: 1/10
Director: Mark Fischbach (as Markiplier)
Producers: Jeff Guerrero, Will Hyde
Screenplay: Mark Fischbach
Videogame: David Szymanski
Music: Andrew Hulshult
Cast:
Simon: Mark Fischbach
Ava: Caroline Kaplan
David: Troy Baker
SM-8 Research Lead / The Speaker: Elsie Lovelock
SM-8 Research Assistant / The Whisper: Elle LaMont
The Guy Who Told You to Cross the Wires: Mick Lauer
The Father: David Pettitt
Eden Soldier: Holt Boggs
Young Simon: Isaac McKee
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.