13/11/2026

LYFE FRIDAY | NOV 13, 2026

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Ű BY ASHIQIN AHMAD lifestyle@thesundaily.com MOVIE REVIEW

0 Cast: Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin, Emily Rudd, Jane Levy 0 Director: Brian Duffield

I MAGINE going for a dive and ending up as the main course for one of the ocean’s largest creatures. It sounds like the setup for a bizarre nightmare but Whalefall turns that unsettling possibility into an unexpectedly gripping survival thriller. Directed by Brian Duffield and adapted from Daniel Kraus’s novel, the film follows Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams), a young scuba diver who enters the ocean in search of his late father’s remains. His expedition takes a terrifying turn when he is swallowed whole by a sperm whale, leaving him with limited oxygen, an increasingly hostile environment and very little time to figure out how to escape. It is an unusual premise and the film wastes little time reminding viewers just how horrifying such a situation would be. Jay is trapped in an unfamiliar world where every movement could make things worse, and the possibility of being digested alive becomes a rather unpleasant race against the clock. What makes Whalefall particularly engaging is that it does not rely solely on the novelty of its concept. Beneath the creature-feature spectacle is a story about grief, resentment and a complicated relationship between a father and son. Inside the beast’s belly The film’s greatest achievement is its depiction of the whale’s interior. Rather than presenting it as a simple dark space, the production creates an entire underwater environment filled with unsettling textures, strange organisms and unexpected obstacles. From the murky surroundings to the glowing marine life, there is a surprising visual beauty to some of the film’s most disturbing sequences. This contrast makes Jay’s predicament all the more fascinating because the environment can appear mesmerising one moment and threatening the next. The visual effects also deserve credit for making the experience feel convincingly uncomfortable. Watching Jay navigate the whale’s digestive system, surrounded by unfamiliar substances and increasingly dangerous conditions, is enough to make anyone reconsider their next diving holiday. There are moments when the physical horror becomes intense, particularly when Jay accidentally got the whale’s stomach acid all over his ungloved hands. The film does not shy away from the unpleasant details and its willingness to make viewers sit with the discomfort gives the survival elements much of their impact. Abrams also carries the film largely on his own as much of his performance depends on physical expression, panic and the ability to communicate desperation despite being restricted by his diving equipment. He makes

E-VALUE

8

ACTING

8

PLOT

7

Slimy situation o Whalefall’s strangely beautiful, unsettling visuals Before the rescue mission for Mitt begins, the film explores the fragile relationship between father and son, proving there is more to the story than simply getting munched by a whale.

Jay’s childhood, sometimes making the emotional storyline feel slightly disconnected from the physical predicament. The father-son dynamic is meaningful but some of its revelations could have been handled with greater subtlety. The film is more effective when it allows Jay’s actions and reactions to communicate his pain rather than relying on dialogue to explain what he is feeling. Theatre type of entertainment Watching Whalefall in 4DX added an extra thrill to an already unusual viewing experience. The moving seats and sensory effects made Jay’s desperate attempts to escape feel more immediate, particularly during the chaotic sequences inside the whale. It was one of those films that genuinely benefits from being experienced on the big screen rather than watched casually at home. That said, the film may be a snoozer as a family movie night pick. Spending much of its runtime inside the whale’s digestive system can get a little draggy at times, especially when the survival sequences stretch on. Some of the graphic scenes may also be a bit much for younger viewers despite the PG13 rating. Still, that is the entire premise of the movie and it does commit to it. Its unusual setting, tense moments and visual spectacle make it an entertaining cinema experience. The 4DX treatment is simply the cherry on top. A strange ride Whalefall is not without its shortcomings. Some of the flashbacks slow down the pacing, while certain explanations make the survival process feel more complicated than necessary. There are also moments when the emotional themes are pushed a little too heavily, particularly when the film tries to connect every physical obstacle to Jay’s relationship with his father. Still, its ambition and unusual premise make it an entertaining watch. The underwater visuals are compelling, the survival sequences deliver plenty of tension and Abrams gives the audience a protagonist worth rooting for. More importantly, the film understands how to make its central concept work as a spectacle and a personal journey. It is strange, occasionally uncomfortable and sometimes surprisingly beautiful but that combination gives it a personality of its own. Whalefall may not be the most conventional thriller but it makes good use of its extraordinary setting and delivers an experience that is difficult to forget.

Amid the chaos, Jay befriends a glowing jellyfish that helps him navigate the otherwise pitch-black belly of the whale.

Jay’s fear believable without turning every scene into an exaggerated display of terror. Beneath the surface While the whale provides the immediate danger, the film gradually reveals that Jay is carrying another burden into the ocean. Through flashbacks, viewers learn about his troubled relationship with his late father, Mitt (Josh Brolin), whose influence continues to shape the way Jay sees himself. Their relationship was far from ideal, with Mitt’s harsh treatment and criticism leaving Jay with unresolved resentment. These memories provide emotional context for Jay’s journey and explain why recovering his father’s remains means more to him than simply completing a search mission. Brolin brings a commanding presence to Mitt while Abrams gives Jay the vulnerability of someone who has spent years trying to make sense of a relationship that never gave him the reassurance he needed. However, the flashbacks can occasionally interrupt the urgency of the present-day survival story. Just as the tension begins to build inside the whale, the film shifts back to

Inside the whale’s belly, Jay discovers an ecosystem of its own, complete with strange creatures and remnants of the whale’s previous meals. – ALL HANDOUT PICS