Iron Lung Review: A perfect yet questionable adaptation
Iron Lung may just be the most faithful and lovingly crafted video game adaptation that has ever been brought to the silver screen. Every little detail of the film shows Markiplier's deep desire to create something that fully honors the game and its creative vision. However, is the film actually, well, good? That's what I will be breaking down in today's Reel Ranker review.
The first thing I have to say is I am so happy to see what the impact this film has had on the zeitgeist. Any time an indie film blows up, I'm going to have a huge grin on my face and (on occasion) maybe even tear up when I walk into the theater knowing I'm supporting something much bigger than myself in the realm of moviemaking and film analysis. And Markiplier and his associates absolutely delievered, making a perfect adaptation of Iron Lung.
With a 3 million dollar budget, they didn't waste a single dollar. The production design, cinematography and feel of the film was perfect. Everything came together in an incredible way. On top of that, Markiplier's acting was truly commendable, and was certainly good enough that I'd love to see him in more productions! It's odd to say, but other than the fact they didn't have captions for the spotty submarine audio in a couple scenes, it was perfectly crafted. I have no notes for Markiplier and his team, it was incredibly made.
My problem instead lies with the story of the video game itself, and the idea of adapting this project into a movie in the first place. The film did its job perfectly, but it's a job that I don't really understand. While the premise of the game is quite intriguing, since the game doesn't have much of a plot, the movie can't really do all that much without expanding on the source material. Which, they didn't really do, as it was trying to be a perfect 1:1 adaptation. Now, I actually don't feel that shaving 30 minutes off this movie would fix the problem, which a lot of people say about it. I simply didn't feel this story did anything for me. I know some people, especially fans, love how Iron lung leaves everything up to interpretation and that's the horror of it, but it's just really hard to bring that to screen when you aren't relying on that gameplay aspect. And, while the blood ocean scene at the end is super awesome, it's just such a downer ending that feels you wanting more after 2 hours of watching.
I hate to be one of those critics that seems to be bashing on Markiplier's creation and the video game. As somebody who hasn't really watched any of Markiplier's videos or doesn't particularly have a soft spot for the game, I'm truly impressed by this film, and as such, will always champion its existence and recommend that everybody goes to watch it to form their own opinion. This isn't one of those films that I dislike because it's poorly made, but more for the fact that it simply didn't have a plot that worked for me with such a runtime. And, if it works for other people? I'm stoked. I love that people love this more than me because, well, I love everything about the story and the message this film delivers. I respect this film so much, and it deserves every good that is coming to it. And I'll be on the lookout for Markiplier's next film, because he's already proven that he knows how to create a magical adaptation that appeals to so many people.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 51%
Letter Score: C+
Star Ranking: 2.5 out of 5
Markiplier's Iron Lung is a perfectly passionate adaptation with amazing production design, impressive acting efforts, and lovely effects that rival and even surpass the quality and attention to detail of typical Hollywood flicks. However, the whole movie begs the question: is the story of this video game a strong enough foundation for a two hour film? I think not. While I still recommend this film (especially to Iron Lung fans) due to its incredible impact on the art of moviemaking and its testament to the power of indie films, I can't say I thought it was a particularly great story to bring to the big screen.
Enjoy this review? Stay tuned for more articles from The Reel Ranker! Enjoy video games? Check out our sister site, RPG Ranked!
