Iron Lung (2026) is an indie film that has managed to break into the usually exclusive world of big box office success and as such is threatening to the old guard of major studios. Based on a popular indie horror game by David Szymanski and adapted into the movie format by popular YouTube star Mark Fishbach (AKA Markiplier) this tale of cosmic horror triggers All the phobias. Claustrophobia? Check Fear of isolation? Check Thalassaphobia? Check Fear of blood? Oh, Double check.
Cosmic Horror and The Quiet Rapture
The movie is a Cosmic Horror masterpiece, it takes place after an event known as ” The Quiet Rapture” wherein every inhabited planet and all the life on it mysteriously vanished, along with all the stars. The only things left in the known universe are a few moons and a couple of space stations. The entire human population has been reduced to a handful of people who have since fractured into two groups. One, The Sons of Eden, believe the future of humanity lies in religion. The other the C.O.I ( the Consolidation of Iron) believe hope hinges on science.
Diving the Oceans of Blood
The C.O.I is exploring the “Blood Oceans” (actual human blood) that have suddenly appeared on a few of the remaining moons. One of the largest blood oceans is on a moon called AT-5, brining the audience to the locus of action. When introduced to Simon (Mark Fishbach), the main character and almost the only characters in the movie, he is a prisoner. Details are thin, but Simon has committed a serious crime. There are so few humans, death sentences have been abolished. Simon has taken a deal to go down into the blood ocean of AT-5 in a modified sub called a Hemo-Rover, nicknamed ” The iron Lung” and explore for anything that might be of scientific interest.
If he does this, he’s promised that he’ll go free. However it quickly becomes apparent that Simon has been given the “Mushroom Treatment” (fed shit and kept in the dark).
Where to Watch Iron Lung
What Lies at the Bottom of AT-5
Simon is given almost no information. In fact he’s not even told what he is meant to be looking for. It’s only after he’s submerged that he’s warned about potential fires and the danger of running out of air. As the story progresses the narrative leaks additional details about Simon’s background. Through conversations with the Captain of the mission Ava ( Caroline Kaplan) and in flashback scenes, we discover that Simon was a member of the religiously inclined “Sons of Eden”.
The Biblical Lore of Iron Lung
An interesting thing to note about the video game that informed the movie, is that creator David Szymanski is actually very Christian himself. And religious themes pop up in all of his creations, including Iron Lung. The event known as “The Quiet Rapture” is clearly referencing the Biblical Rapture, wherein its believed that one day God will take all his chosen people into heaven, leaving the rest damned to navigate the hellscape of a post Rapture earth. The Blood Oceans are also a direct Biblical reference, coming from several passages that speak about ” waters turning to blood”.
The other themes that the movie explores — guilt, sacrifice, and redemption — are also very religious in nature.
There’s Something Sinister Deep in The Blood
The more Simon explores, the more it becomes apparent that he is not alone in the blood. The Iron Lung is equipped with an X-Ray camera intended to record the events outside the submersible. This provides the only portal to anything outside the rover since all portholes had been welded shut. Through the pictures and noises heard outside the rover, it soon becomes apparent that there is something out there. There is something living in the blood and this something is very big.
As conditions inside the Iron Lung and inside Simon’s mind worsen it also starts to seem like whatever is out there, it’s intelligent. And it’s toying with him.
Iron Lung’s tension builds to an explosive and Lovecraftian conclnusion.
Iron Lung – Influencers Influencing Hollywood
Possibly the best thing about this movie, apart from its thrilling conclusion, is that it was privately funded by Fishbach using his own studio. The movie reportedly only cost approximately $6 million dollars. At this points the returns appear to top a very impressive $51 million worldwide. Fishbach has now made Iron Lung available for rent or purchase on YouTube (for the completely reasonable price $10 dollars). It’s poised to rake in even more money.
The success of Iron Lung success is being treated with hostility by many of the major studios. Studios that have a vested interest in maintaining an industry where their big money productions are the only ones bringing in the numbers. According to them, indie films should continue to be relegated to small theaters and film festivals. However with the success of independent horror films like Iron Lung and smaller studio horror films like Backrooms, it seems like the industry will soon be facing a shakeup.
A shakeup that I feel will bring in some much needed fresh blood (no pun intended) and new ideas to a film genre that is often criticized for recycling tired tropes and old gimmicks.
Iron Lung – Cosmic Sized Horror
If you like cosmic horror or horror with religious themes and especially if you want your scares to be a little more cerebral then you definitely want to check out Iron Lung. It’s available right now on YouTube, so take a deep breath and prepare to be submerged.
Iron Lung (2026) – Drowning Hollywood in Blood - Malevolentdark
Director: Mark Fischbach
Date Created: 2026-01-01 18:00
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