Austin Abrams' Survival Thriller Whalefall’s First Reactions Are Officially In

Published Oct 6, 2026, 8:10 AM EDT

Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 10 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with.

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Whalefall is facing critics' judgment.

Whalefall, directed by Brian Duffield (known for Underwater), stars Abrams, Emily Rudd, Josh Brolin, Jane Levy, Elisabeth Shue, and John Ortiz. The movie follows Jay Gardiner (played by Abrams) as he dives to search for his father's remains, but must fight for survival after a whale swallows him whole. First reactions to Austin Abrams' survival thriller Whalefall have arrived, giving potential audiences a sense of what to expect at the movie's release.

Editor and critic Phil Roberts stated, "Brian Duffield’s #Whalefall is a new claustrophobic classic. Austin Abrams shines in this oceanic estranged family flick. Coupled with a stellar performance by Josh Brolin, the film boasts a poignant storyline and phenomenal CGI effects. It’s whale of a time!"

Content creator Adam Hlaváč shared his thoughts about Whalefall on X and said, "Genuinely didn’t know what to expect from #Whalefall, but I had a hell of a time watching this! Austin Abrams trying to escape the gut of a sperm whale was more stressful than I thought it could be. See this on a large format like RPX for the full experience!"

Zac Haniff praised Abrams for his roles over the last few months, including Zach Cregger's Resident Evil and now Whalefall, by stating: "Austin Abrams’ back must be ACHING this month. after carrying resident evil (2026) mostly solo, he carries another thriller #Whalefall playing as a guy trapped inside the stomach of a whale. This film is tense, disgusting, and disney somehow manage to make it work."