Surely one of the most high concept films of 2026, Brian Duffield’s survival drama features scuba diver Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) who, while searching for the remains of his father, Mitt (Josh Brolin), is swallowed alive by a sperm whale and attempts to escape.
You might think that scenes of one man stuck inside a whale could not sustain a feature length movie and you would be right. Fortunately, there are enough flashbacks of Jay, Mitt and the rest of their family to heighten the interest. Those also give Brolin the chance to flex his considerable acting skills as the overbearing father.
Back in the whale, there were plenty of moments that made me squirm in my seat, and enough different ways that Jay tries to get away so it does not become boring or repetitive. What definitely does not work though are the imagined conversations between Jay and his Dad or the way the whale escapes from a pack of killer whales.
On the whole then, a unique and curious film that is partially successful.
Rating: 6 out of 10