I had the chance to see Whalefall this week. It’s the story of a young diver (Austin Abrams) who is swallowed by an enormous sperm whale off the coast of California and must confront his grief and unresolved issues surrounding his late father (Josh Brolin) while struggling to survive.
Man, I just loved this movie.
It’s so well crafted and engaging. If you’ve seen the trailer, then you know its primary draw is experiencing the absolute horror of being swallowed alive by a whale. Don’t be put off by that. It has so much more going for it.
Yes, it is painful. Yes, it is gnarly. It also has some really poignant moments that hit me right in the heart. The father and son issues are handled with extraordinary care. They both want to connect, but simply can’t. They could have made Dad out to be a monster or the son into something melodramatic, but they don’t. They’re just misaligned like fathers and sons often are.
I also found the underwater and interior-of-the-whale sequences quiet beautiful. Director Brian Duffield does an incredible job of keeping things rooted in a sense of reality even as it slips into something more fantastic.
I’m moving this one up into my top slots for favorite films of 2026. It was definitely a surprise. I shed some tears and had my hand over my mouth in horror for most of the film. I mean, what more can you ask for?
That’s 2/2 starring Austin Abrams in 2026. What a great year for films across the board. If you can, you should try to see this one on the big screen.
Have you seen Whalefall? I’d love to hear your perspective.
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