Preposterous Whale Survival Movie 'Whalefall' Criticized for Lack of Logic
The film, featuring a man swallowed by a whale, is described as a ridiculous and unbelievable oceanic adventure.
The new film "Whalefall," which centers on a man swallowed alive by a whale, has been met with criticism for its increasingly outlandish plot and lack of logical consistency. The movie, which reportedly runs for 106 minutes and is rated PG-13 for peril, violent content, and other mature themes, follows protagonist Jay, played by Austin Abrams.
Reviewers have pointed out numerous implausible scenarios, including Jay using a jellyfish as a flashlight inside the whale and the creature's digestive tract being inexplicably well-lit. The film also features strange, anemone-like appendages attacking Jay and the improbable inclusion of steel wool in his scuba gear. These elements have led to the movie being described as "preposterous" and requiring viewers to suspend disbelief to an unreasonable extent.
Director Brian Duffield's thriller aims for suspense but is noted for failing to sustain audience interest. The narrative also includes flashbacks to Jay's relationship with his father, Mitt, played by Josh Brolin. Mitt, a diving expert, is portrayed as a harsh instructor, and his death at the beginning of the film prompts Jay to seek closure by retrieving a piece of his father's body from the ocean. These flashbacks are described as overblown and even more "unappetizing" than the main plot.
Elizabeth Shue appears as Jay's mother, Zara, but her role is minimal. The film attempts to pad its runtime with these emotional subplots, which reviewers found unconvincing. Despite Abrams' energetic performance, the movie struggles to maintain engagement, with critics suggesting that even ten minutes inside the whale would have been sufficient.
The plot culminates with Jay attempting to escape the whale, recalling his father's teachings. In a moment described as the film's best hope for survival, Jay is able to climb halfway up the whale's mouth when a tour boat appears, leading him to yell, "Help me! I'm inside the whale!"
"Whalefall" is based on the novel by Daniel Kraus and also features Abrams in a scenario where he races against time to find safety, a theme also present in another recent film. However, "Whalefall" is distinguished by its unique, albeit unbelievable, premise and its struggles to deliver a compelling survival narrative.