Whalefall (2026) Review

Austin Abrams, who impressed viewers with his lead role in this year’s Resident Evil, stars as Jay Gardiner, a diver who heads underwater in search of the remains of his late father, Mitt Gardiner (Josh Brolin). But Jay gets more than he bargained for when he is swallowed whole by a fully grown sperm whale, leading to a desperate struggle for survival for his oxygen runs out, or before he gets crushed or dissolved by the whale’s stomach acids. None of these options are particularly pleasant ways to go, so Jay needs to use every skill at his disposal in order to escape in one piece.

Whalefall absolutely feels like a desperate struggle for survival, with the sense of danger being palpable as Jay tries to find a way out of the giant aquatic beast. The cramped, claustrophobic set design perfectly matches the insides of a living creature, with the spaces Jay is often confirmed to sometimes being so tight that he can barely move, and you will no doubt also start to feel claustrophobic as you witness Jay’s restricted movements as he struggles to find a way out. Similarly, the excellent sound design also adds to the overall tension and suspense, with the crushing and crunching sounds coming from inside the whale constantly reminding you of what will be in store for Jay if he does not find a way to escape. Put simply, when you watch Whalefall, it really will start to seem like you have actually been swallowed by a whale. But, despite the desperate nature of Jay’s situation, we are still reminded that the whale is still a magnificent creature which did not endanger him out of anger or spite, and some of the wide shots of the whale swimming through the vast ocean were beautiful enough to bring tears to your eyes. Unlike with many monster or dangerous animal horror movies, Whalefall almost makes you root for the creature over the human.

As the human in question, Abrams is stunning as Jay, portraying him as a frustrated young man who becomes increasingly desperate as his situation becomes increasingly hopeless. Because Jay does not have much dialogue inside the whale, the bulk of Abrams’ performance is conveyed through movements and mannerisms, which come across as highly convincing. Although the PG-13 rating means there is no real graphic imagery, the sense of desperation still becomes more palpable as the horror of his situation becomes more apparent. Although the plot setup is decidedly simple, the sheer tension helps you overlook the relative simplicity of the story.

There are also flashback scenes depicting Jay with his father, and the chemistry between Brolin and Abrams is strong enough to believably make them seem like father and son. Mitt is shown to be a very demanding father who expects so much from his son, and Jay, despite being intelligent and ambitious, clearly feels like he will never truly impress his father. These scenes are heartbreaking, especially as viewers know that Mitt does not have long left to live, and despite Mitt’s unreasonable expectations, it is clear that he still deeply loves his son, who also loves him in return. The father-son dynamic adds a tragic element to Whalefall, making it as much of a heartbreaking family story as it is a story of a man being swallowed by a whale. Elisabeth Shue also appears as Mitt’s wife and Jay’s mother, Zara Gardiner, delivering a memorable performance despite her limited screen time.

Whalefall is a film which overwhelms viewers with an enhanced sense of desperation as Jay searches for a way out of the whale, while also presenting a heartbreaking father-son dynamic through its flashback scenes. Duffield delivered a stunning viewing experience which needs to be seen on the big screen, with Whalefall proving to be an adequately suspenseful and highly gratifying film.

Movie Rating:

Whalefall trailer