Austin Abrams’ Rising
The star of Austin Abrams is shooting high this year thanks to Resident Evil and Whalefall. After his amazing segment in Weapons and these two follow-up movies, he’s also seemingly the go-to guy for stories of an isolated man in peril. While Resident Evil had him fighting for his life amongst a T-Virus outbreak and mutants and zombies closing in on him, Whalefall has him fighting for his life in the claustrophobic setting of a whale’s insides as he gets swallowed up by one.
First Reactions
Whalefall has finally screened for an audience and the viewers have gone straight to their social media to share their first impressions of the film. So, what are they saying about Whalefall? Let’s check out some reactions.
Chris Killian found the movie to be surprisingly emotional as he says, “I knew from the trailer that #Whalefall would be intense, but man, I was not prepared for how deeply moving of a father/son story it is, too. Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams are fantastic together. I’ve never read the book, but this movie made me want to check it out.”
Nick Spake interestingly says it’s like Gravity meets Pinocchio and stated, “#Whalefall plays like Gravity meets Pinocchio. It’s a whale of big screen experience with immersive production design, seamless effects, and sound design that truly makes the audience feel as if they’re inside an underwater behemoth.”
MovieDeathblows absolutely raves about the film, saying, “Look, man… for me, #WhaleFall is the SCARIEST movie of the year! Imagine Alien meets Jaws, combining the absolute claustrophobic terror of being trapped with the unimaginable nightmare of being swallowed whole by a gigantic beast of the sea… BY ACCIDENT! We also get a Hollow Man reunion with Josh Brolin and Elisabeth Shue! And can we talk about Austin Abrams?! This guy is a GENERATIONAL talent. Every single role thrown his way, he absolutely crushes, and somehow, it’s NEVER the same performance. The range, the emotional depth, the sheer versatility he displays at his age are absolutely outrageous. The score goes COMPLETELY OFF THE RAILS after the first hour, and director Brian Duffield clearly knows EXACTLY what he’s doing, especially once we get into the water. The tension, the atmosphere, the sheer terror of it all… UNREAL. This movie got under my skin in a way very few horror films have this year.”
Film Speak’s Griffin Schiller also raves about the movie and says, “For as viscerally intense, grotesque, and claustrophobic as #Whalefall is, it’s the wistful reflections on a complicated paternal relationship that truly give the film its resonance. Completely blindsided me! Such a compelling examination of emotionally inept fathers and their distant sons reckoning with the lessons and legacy they leave behind. A film about our symbiotic relationship with the natural world and the way we communicate with it. 2026 continues to be the year of Austin Abrams, as he delivers another layered, physical, all-encompassing performance, supported by the emotional gravitas of Josh Brolin. Very Ad Astra, while also reminding me of 90s survival dramas. Great film!”
Adam Patla also raves about the film, but found the emotional moments sappy, “Still thinking about #Whalefall if I’m being honest. Exhilarating, claustrophobic stuff. Austin Abrams carries this thing flawlessly and Brian Duffield manages to make the confines of a whale’s stomach so cinematic. Gets a little too sappy for my liking in the third act but it’s a blast and should be seen with a crowd.”
Tom Chatalbash says Whalefall gives you a new reason not to go back into the water and said, “#Whalefall will give you a new reason to not go back in the water. Director Brian Duffield has crafted a ferociously visceral and immersive survival film anchored by another emotionally and physically committed performance from Abrams who carries this one effortlessly. The practical effects fused with the vfx make everything feel tactile, effectively claustrophobic, and wonderfully gross as the clock ticks and the oxygen depletes. Abrams and Brolin are dynamite, their father/son relationship forming the film’s prickly beating heart. The sound design is also off the charts, making the audience feel consistently uneasy and delightfully off balance. See this one on the big screen!”
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