WHALEFALL
Starring: Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin, Jane Levy, Emily Rudd, and Elisabeth Shue
Director: Brian Duffield
NICK
Austin Abrams has found himself in a precarious position yet again in the film Whalefall. Although there are clearly horror elements to watching a man get swallowed by a whale, it's the father/son story and dynamic that takes centre stage here. As Abrams’ Jay struggles for survival, he harkens back to memories of his late father (Josh Brolin) and his tough love. It’s emotionally affecting but can be a little heavy-handed to the point it can come across a touch cheesy. Despite that, the whale content is visually impressive and Abrams continues to showcase his unconventional leading-man qualities. Just avoid swimming any time soon.
PAIGE
While Whalefall is a claustrophobic survival tale, at its core it’s a surprisingly emotional father-son story. Some emotional beats feel heavy handed, but they add depth to our lead’s fight for survival. Once again, Austin Abrams carries a film on his shoulders and delivers a great performance as an everyday man living the worst day of his life. The whale’s visual design is impressive and the sound design is a standout, although sometimes it’s difficult to understand Abrams’ character through his oxygen mouthpiece. This film is essentially 127 Hours minus 126 hours. The tension is high, but the film loses some steam by its third act.
QUENTIN
Considering the premise of Whalefall lives in the neighborhood of my literal nightmares, it’s possible that my reaction was more visceral than yours might be. That said, my heart was racing and I had goosebumps at several scenes. Sure, you have to suspend some disbelief, and the father-son dynamic is a little forced and overly sappy, but as a survival thriller, you couldn’t ask for much more. It’s suspenseful and riveting, built on a unique premise that director Brian Duffield renders as appropriately claustrophobic through terrific practical effects. All in all, Whalefall is one of the year’s most intense theatrical experiences.
This film was reviewed by Nick as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2026 Toronto After Dark Film Festival.