Early reactions to Brian Duffield’s Whalefall agree on one thing about Austin Abrams‘ performance. The survival thriller’s first social media buzz reveals where audiences are split and where they’re united ahead of its October 16 release.
People are loving Whalefall in its first reactions
Early reactions to Brian Duffield’s survival thriller Whalefall have landed on social media after 20th Century Studios held screenings last week. The studio hosted a gala screening in London, with full critics’ reviews embargoed until October 14. The film hits theaters on October 16.
Austin Abrams stars as Jay Gardiner, who dives off California’s central coast after his father’s death. A massive sperm whale swallows him during the dive, leaving him with one hour of oxygen. Josh Brolin co-stars as the late father, whose life lessons become key to Jay’s escape.
The early buzz has drawn a mixed but largely positive response. Erik Davis called the film “a blast” and said it “firmly cements Austin Abrams as one of fall’s most exciting rising stars.” Matt Rodgers described it as “guts, slime, and a terrific time,” adding that “the entire thing is buoyed by an emotional core.” Rachael Prior called it “a gigantic, terrifying and emotional spectacle” and said her “knees stopped shaking” never during the runtime.
However, not all reactions landed positively. Iana Murray found the whale sequences “terrifying” and “stressful” but called the father-son material “saccharine.” She still praised Abrams’ ability to convey fear despite wearing goggles and a breathing apparatus.
Gavin Spoors echoed that sentiment, noting the film “goes way too over-sentimental by the end.” He still recommended watching it on the big screen for its sound design.
The cast also includes Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy, and Emily Rudd. Duffield co-wrote the script with Daniel Kraus, adapting Kraus’ 2023 novel. Duffield previously directed the acclaimed sci-fi horror film No One Will Save You (2023) and the black comedy Spontaneous (2020).
