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

Published Oct 6, 2026, 8:10 AM EDT

Austin Abrams is an actor known for his versatile roles throughout television and movies, from indie and teen dramas to major thrillers and horror movies. He made his film debut in the 2011 title Ticking Clock and gained wider recognition after appearing as Ron Anderson in The Walking Dead. Abrams later appeared in HBO's Euphoria, followed by This Is Us, Paper Towns, and Do Revenge. The actor appeared in the horror film Weapons, and his name was suddenly on everyone's mind.

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 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."

Content creator Dawson shared his thoughts on the movie and said that Whalefall "is an intense rollercoaster of a survival thriller, with an incredible performance once again by Austin Abrams. The film is at its best when putting you in claustrophobic, bone crunching scenarios that will have you wincing at the screen. However, at times takes itself a little too seriously for a film about a man being eaten by a whale. Throw in some really beautiful cinematography and great use of production design and you’ve got what I’m confident will be a big hit amongst audiences."

Critic Erik Davis shared his thoughts on Duffield's Whalefall on X and stated:

"Brian Duffield’s #Whalefall is a blast, and it firmly cements Austin Abrams as one of fall’s most exciting rising stars. This is a film that goes well beyond the gimmick of having a guy stuck inside a whale, as Duffield smartly keeps those moments evolving and escalating in tension while allowing the story outside the whale to build into something much larger.

It’s a uniquely wild, tension-filled thriller about fighting to survive the craziest of circumstances, but also a moving story about managing grief and the almost impossible obstacles we can face in the process. Did not know what to expect with this one, but it's a great example of smart writing and directing elevating a tricky, chaotic premise. Good stuff!"

Amongst the first reactions included tons of praise for leading man, Abrams. Editor Naomi shared that, "Austin Abrams, whom I love like my son, gets himself in increasingly horrific situations in the insanely stressful #Whalefall. All goes a bit mystic whale at the end but I dug it. Not sure anyone would have bet on Abrams being Hollywood’s next biggest star, but he’s magnetic."

However, some had mixed reviews, including journalist Gavin Spoors, who said, "I wanted to like #Whalefall more—the set pieces are nerve-shredding—but the film goes way too over-sentimental by the end. Still worth watching on the big screen for the incredible sound design and another winning Austin Abrams performance." Alistair Ryder had more negative thoughts and said Whalefall is, "the most inexplicably boring movie of 2026? Half dimly lit survival thriller where you can’t distinguish a single fucking action sequence, half tiresome daddy issues drama with flat characterisation/performances, all parts patience testing."

Whalefall arrives to terrify audiences in theaters on October 16.