I had some fun with the first teaser for Whalefall, a movie about a guy who gets eaten by a whale, something I find inherently funny. But afterwards I was told Daniel Kraus’ best-selling novel it’s based on is fantastic. Of that I genuinely have no doubt. All jokes aside, it’s a terrifying premise. The ocean is terrifying enough without a gigantic monster eating you. But, yeah. Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m not going to keep having fun with Whalefall. How can I not when the trailer is this funny? I can’t help but laugh watching a guy stuck inside a literal whale. Especially when a squid who is also inside the whale also attacks him.
Even as a serious nature horror film (and not a comedy) this is really not a bad trailer! It’s actually pretty good. It’s an intense, scary survival story that is really about parents and tough. It just so happens to involve a guy who becomes a real life Pinocchio. A Pinocchio who then fends off a squid before climbing onto the whale’s tongue to scream out “help me.” I mean, who among us….
I’m not missing anything, either. That really is the movie. That’s what the official synopsis says. From 20th Century Studios:
Following the death of his father (Josh Brolin), Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) goes diving off the Central Coast of California in search of his remains, but is swallowed by a massive sperm whale. While trapped inside its belly with only one hour of oxygen left, Jay comes to realize that the hard-earned lessons his father imparted may be the key to his escape.
Whalefall comes from writer-director Brian Duffield (who co-wrote it with Kraus). It also stars Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy, and Emily Rudd.
Will I find Whalefall as funny as its trailers? I’ll find out when it gobbles up theaters on October 16.