The new movie “Iron Lung” uses psychological horror to show more. The film is set entirely inside a small submarine nicknamed “The Iron Lung.” The submarine is tasked with exploring a blood-filled ocean on a distant moon after every planet and star mysteriously disappeared in an event known as the quiet rapture. The only humans left are the ones who were on space stations. The protagonist is a convict charged with destroying a space station named Filament. To gain his freedom, he must explore the ocean alone with no prior training due to time and resource constraints. The film excels at creating a tense, scary atmosphere in such a small space.

Director Mark Fischbach, known as Markiplier on YouTube, uses the claustrophobic space to create tension. For example, the constant humming and creaking of the submarine adds to the tension and makes the submarine seem unsafe and like it is falling apart. The film also uses practical effects to add to the atmosphere, like the murky red blood that occasionally drips into the submarine, making time feel limited. That acting is also incredible, even if it is mostly played by one actor. The protagonist, also played by Mark Fishbach, slowly goes insane as he is forced to explore the blood ocean with a phenomenal performance.

The film takes its time with its narrative and explores themes of isolation, despair, and sacrifice, making it a great watch for fans of slow-burning thrillers. The film shows how powerful an atmosphere and character can be to storytelling and filmmaking.