Whalefall Review: Austin Abrams Stars in Brian Duffield’s Survival Thriller
Director Brian Duffield’s film Whalefall, based on Daniel Kraus’ 2023 novel, brings a claustrophobic survival thriller to theatres. Running at 106 minutes, the English-language feature stars Austin Abrams alongside Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy, and Emily Rudd. The film subverts typical creature-feature conventions by focusing on the intense internal reality of a scuba diver swallowed alive by an 80-foot sperm whale.
A Son's Mission and a Sudden Disaster
The story follows Jay Gardiner, played by Austin Abrams, who shares a fraught history with his late father, Mitt, played by Josh Brolin. Mitt was a renowned diver who introduced Jay to the ocean, but his aggressive and abusive training methods drove Jay away. Jay left to study in Iowa and refused to visit his father during an illness. Mitt ultimately chose to die in the ocean rather than endure a prolonged medical condition.
A year after Mitt’s passing, Jay returns home to mark the first anniversary with his mother, Zara (Elisabeth Shue), and his sisters, Eva (Jane Levy) and Nan (Emily Rudd). Determined to retrieve his father's remains, Jay embarks on a dive. Although the dive begins smoothly, the situation turns dangerous when a lethally aggressive squid appears, resulting in Jay being swallowed whole by a giant sperm whale alongside the cephalopod. With roughly one hour of oxygen remaining in his scuba tank, Jay must find a way to escape from the belly of the beast.
Practical Effects and Emotional Themes
Unlike traditional monster films that quickly move past a creature's prey, Whalefall delivers an immersive depiction of the whale's interior. The film presents the whale's stomach not as an open hollow space, but as a cramped environment filled with living tissue, massive organs, a huge tongue, terrifying teeth, and acid-filled chambers. Practical effects and eerie sound design establish a palpable sense of physical entrapment.
Austin Abrams performed most of his own stunts for the role, contributing to the visceral experience of the narrative. The film's visual presentation utilizes moody greys and icy blues, highlighting scale in scenes such as the whale surfacing beside a comparatively tiny whale-watching boat. Interspersed flashbacks involving Jay and Mitt offer context regarding guilt, love, and forgiveness as Jay fights for survival. Whalefall is currently running in theatres.
