Does Markiplier's "Iron Lung" Sink or Swim?

Since 2012, the internet has been entertained by the video game content of one of Youtube's most beloved creators: Mark Fischbach, more well known as Markiplier. Over a decade later, Fischbach has made the leap from computer screens to the big screen with his directorial debut, Iron Lung, an adaptation of the homonymous video game. Announced nearly three years ago, fans of Markiplier have been waiting with baited breath to see Fischbach's vision come to life. But now that it's finally here, a few questions arise: Was it worth the wait? and is Markiplier ready to move beyond Youtube?

Iron Lung is an independent feature based on the 2022 horror game by David Szymanski. It takes place in a dystopian future, following a convict named Simon (Fischbach) who is being forced to pilot a submarine through an ocean of blood in outer space, hoping to somehow find answers that could prevent humanity's total extinction.

Although vaguely aware of its existence, I am not familiar with the original video game, but I am familiar with the director. Being born in 2004, I grew up watching Markiplier's content. To this day, he remains a titan of the gaming community among names like Jacksepticeye and Pewdiepie. Fischbach is a unique case because he has managed to keep his audience and relevance for over a decade with his charm, humor, and positivity. Most Youtube careers from his era have fizzled out by now but Markiplier's community and influence remain strong. I have so many fond memories of watching his Five Nights at Freddy's videos with my brother, clutching our stomachs with laughter. It didn't even matter if he was good at the game, audiences came and stayed for his personality. With his first feature, Iron Lung, Fischbach makes the pivot from horror games to horror movies.

I'm giving you all this background knowledge because I want to make it clear that I did not go into Iron Lung with the intention of hating on it. I personally think it's admirable that a beloved Youtuber took such a big creative risk with a clear love for the source material. Mark Fischbach served as writer, director, executive producer, and editor in addition to starring as the lead role. Regardless of how you feel about the film, there's no doubt that Iron Lung is a labor of love and passion. Which more than anything, makes my criticisms all the more difficult to write. With that being said, let's get into the content of the film.

Iron Lung is clearly a debut feature; there is passion and a vision but it's a little too rough around the edges to ignore. The best compliment I can give Iron Lung is that it's an okay-ish start to a potentially successful film career. Perhaps a lot of the movie's shortcomings can be attributed to Mark Fischbach simply wearing too many hats. If he was relegated to just actor or producer maybe it would've come out stronger.

Iron Lung does have some strengths. Being incredibly low budget, the film takes place entirely in one room and makes the whole project feel incredibly claustrophobic. For any other film this would be a hinderance but considering the subject matter, this choice further immerses the audience in the main character's situation.

This might be on me for not being familiar with the source material, but I could not get into Iron Lung's plot for the life of me. I found it to be messy, meandering, and unfortunately quite boring, which has never been a problem for Fischbach's Youtube videos. Ultimately, Iron Lung ended up being a valiant effort that just wasn't strong enough to hold my attention, I hope Fischbach and company prove me wrong with their next project, if there ends up being one at all.

While Iron Lung might not be a great film, it is something much more important: impactful. With a budget of only $3 million, the project has already managed to gross an astonishing $37 million less than two weeks after its release date. This is no doubt thanks to Mark Fischbach's massive online following, eager to support their favorite creator.

After the recent news bombshell that Netflix would be buying Warner Bros, people everywhere were outraged to learn that Netflix would be cutting the average theatrical run of their films in half. Millions around the world feared that this would be the end of the classic movie theater experience. Studio executives justified this heinous decision by claiming that young people simply aren't interested in going to their local theater anymore, they would rather stream at home. Iron Lung proves that theory entirely incorrect.

Am I saying that Markiplier's Iron Lung is single-handedly saving cinema? No. But I am saying that its box office success could catalyze some real industry change going forward. There are plenty of people out there who can make a "good" film, but it takes something special to make an impact on the industry. Regardless of the film's quality, these are the projects that move the zeitgeist forward and that will always be worth something.

In my opinion, Iron Lung is not a great film. It feels amateur and rushed despite how long it has been in production. But from what I've seen, Markiplier's fans have been eating it up with a spoon. More than anything, this is a film made for fans, both of Markiplier and the source material. So does it really matter what I think? You be the judge. But despite my grievances I still think Mark Fischbach could make a great film in the future, and if he ends up getting another project greenlit, I'll be sure to give it a chance.