# Whalefall Review: Austin Abrams Swallowed by Whale

> Austin Abrams' thriller 'Whalefall' fails to capture whale's beauty, leaving audiences uneasy.
- Title: Whalefall Review: Austin Abrams Swallowed by Whale · Variety
- Summary: Austin Abrams' thriller 'Whalefall' fails to capture whale's beauty, leaving audiences uneasy. Austin Abrams' underwater thriller 'Whalefall' fails to make…
- Keywords: whalefall, austin abrams, josh brolin, 20th century studios, monterey beach, sperm whale, mesothelioma, entertainment, culture, Review, Austin, Abrams
- Source: Variety — https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/whalefall-review-austin-abrams-josh-brolin-1236910135
- Author: Owen Gleiberman
- Published: 2026-10-14T16:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: whalefall, austin abrams, josh brolin, 20th century studios, monterey beach, sperm whale, mesothelioma, entertainment, culture
## Whalefall Review
Austin Abrams' thriller 'Whalefall' fails to capture whale's beauty, leaving audiences uneasy.
## Underwater Thriller
The movie comes closer to doing for whales what 'Howard the Duck' did for barnyard superheroes, it makes you never want to see one again.
## Human Perseverance
Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) dives off Monterey Beach to find his father's body after he died from mesothelioma.
## Key takeaway

Austin Abrams' underwater thriller 'Whalefall' fails to make whales compelling, focusing instead on human perseverance.