I went in expecting something close to Gravity. That’s not quite what this is. Whalefall puts a young diver in about the worst spot imaginable: trapped inside a whale, deep underwater, with time running out. It’s tense, but it doesn’t carry Gravity’s relentless weight from start to finish. That’s not a knock. It’s a different kind of survival movie, and it helps to know that going in.
Fair warning: this one won’t work for everybody. The camera stays tight on him, and that’s clearly on purpose. Those close-ups box you in until you feel like you’re the one running out of room. It’s a bold choice, and it mostly pays off.
The flashbacks to his strained relationship with his father are where some people will check out. The movie cuts between past and present without smoothing anything over, so you’re left sitting in the discomfort. It isn’t heartwarming, and it isn’t trying to be. I respect that, even if those scenes won’t land for everyone.
Still, I was on the edge of my seat for most of it, and the brief flashes of levity are genuinely fun. Credit goes to Austin Abrams. Between this and the latest Resident Evil, I’m excited to see what he does next. He has a rare knack for making tense moments fun, which matters when you’re stuck alone with one character in one awful place.
It’s not essential, and the family drama might lose you. But if you want a nervy survival thriller with a lead worth watching, this one will have you holding your breath.
