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Whalefall (2026)


Whalefall is a suspense drama written and directed by Brian Duffield, known for directing Spontaneous and No One Will Save You. The film brings Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin together again after Weapons, this time in a story that combines a strained father-son relationship with a claustrophobic survival thriller. The movie does a good job balancing flashbacks with the increasingly terrifying situation in the present. There are some genuinely tense moments that make you feel trapped alongside the main character, and the flashbacks give the story some much-needed breathing room.

Austin Abrams, who has had a great run with Weapons last year and Resident Evil this year, is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's go to leading men. He does a great job carrying the film, balancing the physical demands of the survival story with the emotional baggage his character brings into it. He has a natural screen presence that makes him easy to root for, and this is another strong performance that shows he can carry a movie without needing an established star to do all the heavy lifting.

Josh Brolin, known for No Country for Old Men and Avengers: Infinity War, plays Austin's deceased father, a man who was incredibly hard on his son. The flashbacks give their relationship room to develop, showing how his father's harsh treatment shaped the person Austin's character became. Brolin is the strongest supporting presence in the film, giving the character enough complexity that you can understand the damage he caused without reducing him to a one-dimensional bad father. His chemistry with Abrams helps ground the more outlandish parts of the story in something emotionally recognizable.

Elisabeth Shue, known for Adventures in Babysitting and The Boys, also does well in a smaller supporting role. She brings some welcome experience to the cast, although there is not much opportunity for her to make a lasting impression. Beyond the main performances, there is not a whole lot to discuss about the rest of the cast, as the story is primarily focused on its central character and his struggle to survive.

The direction and cinematography do a good job making the premise work without needing to constantly throw more characters or locations into the mix. The contained setting gives the film a focused feel, and the claustrophobia creates some genuinely unsettling moments. There are a few silly scenes, particularly when you consider that the main character is dealing with the bends. Some of his actions become harder to take seriously when you remember the physical danger he is already in. Still, these moments do not completely undermine the tension the film manages to build.

Whalefall is a solid thriller that makes good use of its unusual premise while giving its characters an emotional story to support it. Austin Abrams continues to prove he can carry a film and Josh Brolin provides a strong supporting performance that adds weight to the father/son relationship. There are a few questionable moments that stretch believability, but the claustrophobic atmosphere and genuine moments of terror make up for most of them. Whalefall may not reinvent the survival thriller, but it delivers an engaging experience with enough tension and emotional depth to make it worthwhile. Result: B

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