Never would I have imagined that a person I had been watching on my cracked iPod screen for over 11 years would be on the big screen at my local movie theater. Yet I made my way to my seat with popcorn in hand as I prepared myself for the passion project he has been teasing since 2023.
Mark Fischbach, known by his account name of Markiplier, is someone many would regard as one of the earliest and most pivotal creators on YouTube. First joining the platform in mid-2012, Fischbach has dabbled in comedy sketches, animations, compilations and video game playthroughs.
Amassing over 23 billion lifetime views on his channel, Fischbach has made it his goal to enjoy the work he does while attracting a genuine audience. After playing David Szymanski’s indie-horror game “Iron Lung,” he fell in love with the idea of pouring thousands of hours into transforming it into a full-fledged movie.
Both the video game and film are about a convict who is forced to pilot a submarine and explore the depths of a blood ocean on a desolate moon. Not being told why he was tasked with navigating the darkness beneath the waves, what his purpose was, nor if any creatures dwelt alongside the submarine, “Iron Lung” creates an eerie atmosphere that leaves players anxious as to what their next move will be and viewers on the edge of their seats.
I went into this film as blind as I could. When the game initially went up on Steam, I had watched various playthroughs and an analysis video or two, but avoided spoilers for the movie on social media. And I am so glad, because I felt like I had been transported back to my middle school self (in a good way, surprisingly) when I entered the theater.
There was something surreal about seeing a movie poster with the words “A film by Markiplier” in a place that wasn’t YouTube. Walking through the hallways, I noticed people wearing his merchandise or dressing up to match the theme of the film, showing their utmost support and appreciation for Fischbach, the man that formed their childhoods.
“Iron Lung” is a film that supports the notion that anyone can make a difference in the lives of others, and that filmography is not restricted to a certain group of people. Film has no boundaries or limitations; passion projects can come to fruition with just a little bit of support and tender care.
The filmography reminded me of a bottle episode — episodes in shows constrained to a certain vantage point in a constant set with minimal characters. Simon, the protagonist played by Fischbach, was stuck inside the rusting submarine interior as he faced what dwells in the red sea for the over two hour runtime.
Strange camera angles, few interactions with other characters and the macabre imagery of the alien moon allowed a sense of dread to build up within the viewer.
On top of the cinematography, the practical effects were a treat to see. Beating the record of the 2013 horror movie “Evil Dead,” Fischbach’s film used a jaw-dropping 80,000 gallons of fake blood to achieve the looks of the monster and blood ocean. One of the final sequences had Fischbach swimming in the flooding submarine, which heightened the fear of suffocation.
Inspired by Szymanski, Fischbach stuck to the underlying script of the video game and the movie is almost identical with minor additions to add exposition. Although the length of the movie was a point of controversy due to viewers feeling that its pacing was slow, I wish that more context was implemented to allow both Markiplier fans and passive viewers to enjoy the film.
“Iron Lung” is not merely a horror adaptation — it represents a cultural shift in who is allowed to make movies. People are no longer confined to YouTube, but rather can be inspired by just one content creator to make their own dreams come true.
Grace Chaves