Whalefall – Review

Thalassophobia, or the intense fear of large, deep bodies of water, may not rank high among the most common of phobias, but the psychology behind it is understandable. After all, humans fear the unknown, the unfamiliar, and the uncertain, and with only a tiny fraction of its global seafloor explored to date, the ocean certainly fits the bill. Then, there’s the disconcerting thought of navigating the darkness with less-used senses, rather than sight, with no safe way out. 

The emotional and physical anguish is already distressing enough on its own, let alone when coupled with another nightmare scenario. Whalefall, Brian Duffield’s big-screen adaptation of Daniel Kraus’ 2023 novel, finds Austin Abrams’ – fresh off the success of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil – Jay, having the worst day of his life, who has an hour to escape after being swallowed alive by a sperm whale while out searching for his father (Josh Brolin) Mitt’s remains. 

It’s a survival thriller in name, not a creature feature, and carries a side plot that explores the complicated relationship between the estranged pair. As Jay deploys different strategies in the race against the clock, he recalls the heavy-handed lessons imparted by Mitt and puts them to use. What follows is a nerve-wracking, claustrophobic trip down the gullet, buoyed by strong leading performances but weighed down by hackneyed familial drama and an absurd resolution, though no fault of its own.

The premise seems extraordinary, but it’s hardly a huge departure from Abrams’ most recent theatrical stints that have taken the 30-year-old actor to the most extreme of scenarios. After suffering in both 2025’s Weapons, also directed by Cregger, and Resident Evil, the rising star is back in the wringer to face emotional demons dating back to his childhood. Despite being an affable, friendly presence around town as a professional scuba driver and whale-watching boat captain, Mitt, resenting his son’s sensitive nature, often subjects him to harsh criticism and impatient tutelage. 

It doesn’t help that Mitt has a very different relationship with Jay’s sisters, Eva (Jane Levy) and Nan (Emily Rudd), who only have happy memories of their father, causing Jay’s bitterness to fester over the years and culminating in a major incident on Mitt’s boat. The former never visited Mitt to make amends since, and all of this backstory is woven into flashbacks that unfold in a non-linear fashion. 

Adding layers to the animosity are the occasional moments of understanding and bonding between the father-son, which echo real-world experiences of intergenerational trauma and may even hit too close to home for some. Abrams and Brolin ooze great chemistry in their respective well-cast roles, with the former breathing life into Jay’s struggle to reconcile his feelings, past and present, with others’ impressions of Mitt. 

There’s nothing to fault about Brolin’s performance, either, as he swings between the jagged edges of Mitt and the shades of his regret. The main issue here lies in the execution of closure – while parental flaws are realistic and human, Jay’s final decision is a little difficult to accept, even didactic, considering the thin development leading up to this point, making characterisation feel inadvertently one-toned. It’s entirely fine to understand and still not justify bad behaviour, guys! 

Fortunately for Whalefall, much of its appeal comes from its largely solo nature. The film is at its best when Abrams takes to the silver screen, charming audiences with a magnetic presence that shouldn’t be surprising after carrying the weight of expectations in Resident Evil. He dives, rages, panics, and cries – out of both fear and relief – and it’s breathtaking work in a situation where goggles and diving apparatus largely obscure his facial expressions, further cementing him as one of the most promising rising stars in recent years. 

The actor’s ability to convey fear translates to realistic portrayals of panic attacks and the volatile yoyo-ing between despair and determination, emphasised through repeated reminders of the remaining oxygen level. As Jay trawls through the whale’s insides, the thriller flick employs clever, innovative cinematography to highlight the tight, confined space. 

Barring the acid-filled digestive tract, it can be a little difficult to tell where Jay is trapped, however. The dim lighting reduces visibility but works well for an adrenaline fix that makes viewers concerned about Jay’s sanity and safety, from fighting off a menacing giant squid to being violently thrown around when the whale is moving fast. While hardly excessive, the bone-crunching scenes may cause queasiness or wincing, including ripping a squid beak out of the palm.

Whalefall also features a bucketload of guts, slime, and squelching noises that evoke the imagery of wet socks, with its lull moments serving as a brief respite from the stressful set pieces and a fleeting glimpse of human connection, such as an oddly endearing sequence where he names a jellyfish and starts talking to it. When the action picks back up, the camera uses a handheld perspective to convey the sensation of turbulence. 

Sound design is the final ace in maintaining tension across 106 minutes, an important sticking point for a title that dedicates the bulk of it to pure thrills inside a whale. The last stretch of its runtime is arguably the weakest, but unlike the sprinkle of mysticism, which can be attributed to Jay’s exhaustion and delirium or benefit of the doubt, his eventual escape method relies too heavily on coincidence and absurd logic. The saving grace is that it follows the original novel, and cannot be faulted for sticking to its roots. 

More than standard survival-thriller and creature-feature fare, Whalefall celebrates the human spirit under the most asinine circumstances and hits its stride when entering high-strung action territory. The emotional core, while well-intended, lacks nuance, though Abrams – the MVP of the cast – and Brolin bring enough chemistry to keep it afloat. Best enjoyed on big-format screens, the underwater (mis)adventure still delivers a whale of a time, just not for poor Jay.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.