YouTube sensation Markiplier (Mark Fischbach) is taking his passion project to the big screen — and he’s promising a bloodbath for the ages. The final trailer for Iron Lung, his self-written, self-directed, and self-financed sci-fi horror adaptation, just landed, teasing a record-shattering gore fest inspired by David Szymanski’s viral 2022 indie game.
Named one of Bloody Disgusting’s Best Indie Horror Video Games You Might’ve Missed in 2022, the original Iron Lung trapped players in a claustrophobic submarine probing a nightmarish blood ocean. Markiplier’s film amps up the dread, claiming the title for “most blood in a horror movie — or any movie for that matter,” topping Evil Dead (2013)’s 50,000 gallons of fake blood.
Trailer Highlights: Claustrophobia and Crimson Chaos
The 1:44-minute trailer plunges viewers into the sub’s rusted confines, with dripping red brine, flickering lights, and shadowy horrors lurking beyond the sealed viewport. Ominous narration sets the tone: “For what purpose do we remain alone in the dark?” Expect tense radio chatter, survival stakes, and visuals slick with gore — all scored by Andrew Hulshult (Dusk, Ultrakill).
Markiplier stars as the doomed convict welded into the “Iron Lung” sub for a suicide mission on moon AT-5. Co-stars include Caroline Rose Kaplan, Troy Baker (The Last of Us), and Elsie Lovelock, with Szymanski in a cameo. Producers Will Hyde and Jeff Guerrero round out the indie crew.
Watch the final trailer below
Official Synopsis: A Desperate Dive into the Red
The stars are gone. The planets have disappeared. Only individuals aboard space stations or starships were left to give the end a name — The Quiet Rapture.
After decades of decay and crumbling infrastructure, the Consolidation of Iron has made a discovery on a barren moon designated AT-5. An ocean of blood.
Hoping to discover desperately needed resources, they immediately launch an expedition. A submarine is crafted and a convict is welded inside. Due to the pressure and depth of the ocean, the forward viewport has been encased in metal. If successful, they will earn their freedom.
If not, another will follow. This will be the 13th expedition.
Theatrical Rollout: Indie Theaters Nationwide
Markiplier’s bypassing studios for a grassroots release via independent U.S. theaters starting January 30, 2026. The goal: 50–100 screens, with tickets now available for pre-order. No listings yet? Contact your local indie cinema to request showings — it’s all about building buzz from the ground up.
This marks Markiplier’s feature debut after YouTube hits like A Heist with Markiplier. Production wrapped in 2023 but hit snags from the SAG-AFTRA strike; post-production turned his bathroom into a render farm. Early fan reactions on Reddit and ResetEra are hyped but cautious — some call the line reads “disaster potential,” others praise the commitment.
Bottom Line
If you crave cosmic horror with a side of extreme splatter, Iron Lung looks like unmissable January fare. Grab tickets early, brace for the red tide, and see if Markiplier delivers on his bloody promise. What’s your take on the trailer — peak terror or YouTuber overreach?
Source: You Tube, TMDB, IMDB
