If you’ve watched and enjoyed Mariplier’s new horror movie Iron Lung, these are five more genre flicks that scratch a similar itch.
Adapted from the video game of the same name by David Szymanski, Iron Lung is a tense scarer about a convict piloting an ageing submarine through a mysterious river of blood.
The film combines paranoia and claustrophobia with something more cosmic, and has been wildly successful at the global box office, grossing $34 million thus far, which is more than 10x its budget.
Youtuber Markiplier wrote, directed, and starred in Iron Lung, and while we wait for details of a digital release, these are five films that cover similar terrain, listed in order of release.
The Abyss
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn
Release date: August 9, 1989
What it’s about: A deep-sea drilling team is recruited by the U.S. Navy after a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks in the ocean’s depths. As they descend into extreme darkness, the crew encounter strange phenomena that challenge their understanding of science, humanity, and what lies beneath.
Why we like it: The Abyss blends sci-fi spectacle with intense human drama as only writer-director James Cameron can, while the underwater location builds pressure on his characters both literally and metaphorically, with tensions rising as they sink to the depths.
The effects were cutting edge for the time and remain impressive nearly 40 years on, while themes of trust, communication, sacrifice, and redemption give The Abyss an emotional weight rarely seen in genre fare.
Event Horizon
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan
Release date: August 15, 1997
What it’s about: A rescue crew investigates the Event Horizon, a ship that vanished during an experimental space journey, then suddenly reappeared near Neptune. Once aboard, they discover the ship returned changed, carrying terrifying forces tied to another dimension that begin to prey on the crew’s fears, while also chipping away at their sanity.
Why we like it: A haunted house movie in space, Event Horizon is a cosmic nightmare that’s filled with unsettling imagery, disturbing twists and turns, and a committed Sam Neill performance that remains one of his very best.
Like Markiplier, director Paul W.S. Anderson creates a grim tone and foreboding atmosphere from the off, before gothic horror and psychological terror combine for a genuinely scary viewing experience.
Below
Director: David Twohy
Cast: Matthew Davis, Bruce Greenwood, Olivia Williams
Release date: April 11, 2003
What it’s about: A WWII submarine rescues survivors from a sunken hospital ship, but strange events begin to plague the vessel as it dives deeper into enemy territory.
Why we like it: The confined submarine setting of Below creates a suffocating atmosphere where every sound and shadow escalates the sense of dread, and frequently suggests something terrible might be around the corner.
Like Iron Lung, the story remains ambiguous for much of the runtime, leaning on suggestion, and asking big questions without offering easy answers.
Moon
Director: Duncan Jones
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Dominique McElligott, Kevin Spacey
Release date: 12 June, 2009
What it’s about: Near the end of a three-year solo contract mining helium-3 on the Moon, astronaut Sam Bell discovers a shocking truth about both his identity and mission.
Why we like it: Moon tells a story of loneliness and isolation, through the tale of one man’s miserable moon mission, and as directed by Duncan Jones, it’s a masterclass in minimalist sci-fi storytelling.
Superb practical effects and a stunning retro-futuristic design lend a lived-in authenticity to proceedings, Nathan Parker’s economical script tackles topics like identity, humanity, and exploitation without ever feeling preachy, while Sam Rockwell’s Sam Bell is the ultimate everyman anti-hero.
Underwater
Director: William Eubank
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, T. J. Miller
Release date: January 10, 2020
What it’s about: After a catastrophic earthquake destroys a deep-sea research facility, a group of survivors must walk along the ocean floor to reach safety. Crushing pressure, failing equipment, and mysterious creatures stalk them as they attempt a desperate escape through total darkness at the bottom of the sea.
Why we like it: Underwater captures a slow-burning sense of dread derived from descending into an unknowable abyss.
The story combines survival horror with cosmic terror, while like Mark Fischbach, Kristen Stewart delivers a grounded performance that anchors the action emotionally, which in turns pays off during the devastating final few reels.
Russia reporter