Whalefall: So WTF, this review is all questions, answered
"Whalefall": TFW men would rather get eaten by a whale than go to therapy. Review.
Whalefall is an odd film that leaves audiences wondering whether to watch for the implausible premise or the captivating performances. The story revolves around Jay Gardiner, a college student portrayed by Austin Abrams, who grapples with his father's suicide one year later. As Jay seeks solace, he decides to perform a secret dive to recover at least some of his father's remains from the ocean.
With only one hour of oxygen, Jay's journey quickly turns into a self-rescue mission when he gets swallowed by a giant sperm whale.
The film, based on Daniel Kraus' novel of the same name, takes the bizarre premise further by incorporating flashbacks that reveal the father-son relationship's highs and lows. Through these memories, Jay starts to understand and let go of his anger towards his father. The whale's innards, however, prove to be inhospitable to humans, and Jay must navigate through the whale's stomach and beyond to escape the suffocating situation.
Whalefall leans into the absurdity of its premise, making physical comedy out of the harrowing scenario. Austin Abrams' portrayal of Jay is a balance between the ruggedness of his father and a scrawny kid trying his best while freaking out. The film's earnestness is sometimes overshadowed by its ridiculousness, creating a mix of laughing-out-loud moments and harrowing scenes.
Despite its grossness, Whalefall is undoubtedly a unique and entertaining film, challenging viewers to question the boundaries of cinematic storytelling.
Written by urgent.news from Mashable's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
