“Whalefall” Review

When I read Daniel Kraus’s novel, “Whalefall,” I was shocked by how he was able to elevate a ludicrous premise into an emotionally mature examination of fathers and sons, feelings left unfelt and things unsaid that also works as a plausible thriller tracking the challenge of surviving after being swallowed by a whale.

Here’s the thing though about adapting a story set almost entirely inside of a whale’s stomach for the screen: it’s dark and claustrophobic and visually uninteresting. Without access to the protagonist’s internal narration, what in the novel comes off as clever problem solving only appears as an indecipherable mess onscreen. While the emotional core of “Whalefall” remains powerful due to strong performances from its lead actors, the challenge of visually recreating the novel’s unique setting proves too much for the film to overcome.

Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) returns to his oceanside home after the death of his father, Mitt (Josh Brolin). A passionate diver suffering from mesothelioma, Mitt decided to die on his own terms, strapping himself with weights and diving one last time into the ocean. Jay refuses, or is unable, to mourn with his family, reflecting only on how cold his father was towards him, how cruel and demanding while teaching him the ins and outs of diving.

Determined to find some semblance of closure, or at least prove to his father that he is capable, Jay sets out on a dive with the goal of recovering his father’s body. Not too long into his dive, Jay encounters a colossal sperm whale. Try as he might to get away, Jay can’t move fast enough and gets swallowed by the whale and is left with only his memories and personal ingenuity to survive.

This story is perhaps most reminiscent of “The Martian”: a man must survive an inhospitable environment — in that case Mars, in this case the body of a whale — with nothing but their own wits and problem solving skills. Jay must tackle each individual problem as it comes, move on to the next one, buying enough time until an ultimate escape presents itself. While the potential is here for a gripping survival thriller, it is unfortunately undercut by its very setting, as once Jay is swallowed the visuals are necessarily dark and the action often incomprehensible. Since the decision making is unclear, it’s hard to stay engaged with the story.

Alongside the action is the emotional through line, which works more successfully. As Jay flashes back again and again to the lessons of his father, he begins to reconsider his dad and their relationship, and begins to process his grief. Jay starts the film emotionally isolated, having to listen to his mother and sister share stories of how playful, tender and caring Mitt was. He hears more stories at the dive shop, establishing Mitt as a legend in the community, practically worshipped as a hero by all who encountered him. None of this meshes with Jay’s own understanding of his father as demanding, harsh and unforgiving.

As we experience the flashbacks with Jay, we begin to understand that what registered to Jay as cruelty was his father’s genuine effort for connection, trying to do right by him by giving him the tools to survive any situation. This relationship is rendered beautifully by Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams. Brolin plays Mitt, equally fearsome and charismatic, as an uncomfortably familiar figure: a father with deep feeling, yet a seeming inability to be emotionally available and honest with his son. He is so afraid of screwing up his son, that he doesn’t realize he is depriving Jay of an emotional bond in favor of physical security.

With virtually no dialogue, so much of the emotional processing occurs on Abrams’s face, in his eyes, as he both tries to survive his ordeal and reckon with his loss. That the heart of the movie resonates as strongly as it does is a testament to these beautiful performances.

Ultimately, “Whalefall” succeeds tremendously in some areas while struggling with its raison d’être: its thrilling quest to escape from the body of a whale. I was left wanting more compelling action, yet satisfied that the film did justice to the source novel’s unexpected pathos.

“Whalefall” Directed by Brian Duffield. Written by Brian Duffield and Daniel Kraus. Starring Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin and Elisabeth Shue. Running Time: 106 Minutes. Genres: Drama, Thriller. Rated PG-13 for peril, violent content, bloody images, some strong language, and thematic content.