Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach has posted a short teaser for his upcoming film adaptation of Iron Lung, a 2022 horror game from David Szymanski. According to Fischbach, who is directing, writing, and starring in the adaptation, it’s “coming soon to theaters”. A nice surprise for fans used to his work launching as YouTube exclusives.
In the teaser, which features music by Andrew Hulshult and narration by JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure voice actor Mick Lauer, we see what is presumably the main character emerging from a sea of blood and ominous lightning.
Fans of Fischbach (and, by extension, listeners of his podcast Distractible) will note that he recently went to the hospital on his birthday because he went “too deep in the blood.” The stunt resulted in his eyes turning a worrying shade of red. It was clear at the time that it was related to the production of Iron Lung, but now the teaser makes it clear it’s most likely the cause of that incident.
Iron Lung is “a short horror game where you pilot a tiny submarine through an ocean of blood on an alien moon,” according to developer and publisher David Szymanski, known for works like DUSK, Chop Goblins, and Squirrel Stapler. Fischbach announced a film adaptation in April, and fans have received periodic behind-the-scenes updates both via YouTube and Distractible.
Destructoid’s Zoey Handley had this to say about Iron Lung: “It’s a brilliant approach to the horror genre. It keeps you feeling perpetually vulnerable. There is nothing to help you and absolutely no escape. Your only option is to keep pressing ahead, as there’s no rescue until the job is done. Don’t get distracted, ignore the sounds. Hurry, but be careful not to bash into a wall. I don’t think it’s possible to represent that idea better in an interactive medium. Iron Lung really is the perfect short-form horror experience.”
