Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams on Whalefall: Practical Effects, Claustrophobic Sets and the Whale That Changes Everything

Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams open up about bringing Whalefall to life, humanizing the ocean’s most misunderstood giants, and the physically demanding production behind the underwater survival thriller.

What happens when the ocean becomes a fight for survival — and the creature at the center of the nightmare isn’t the villain? That’s the question at the heart of Whalefall, the upcoming survival thriller based on Daniel Kraus’s bestselling novel and directed by Brian Duffield.

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Starring Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin, Whalefall follows a terrifying underwater ordeal that pushes the boundaries of survival, exploring humanity’s vulnerability against the overwhelming power of nature. In an exclusive interview with WHO LET US OUT, Brolin and Abrams discuss the film’s emotional core, the challenges of shooting inside a whale, and why practical effects were essential to making the experience feel frighteningly real.

The conversation also touches on fatherhood, the humbling experience of filming Dune, and how Abrams’ physically demanding work on Whalefall compares with his experience on Resident Evil.

Josh Brolin on Humanizing the Whale in Whalefall

Unlike traditional creature features that position animals as threats to humanity, Whalefall takes a different approach. For director Brian Duffield and author Daniel Kraus, the whale is not a monster hunting its prey. Instead, the film asks audiences to reconsider their relationship with wildlife and recognize that humans are entering an environment that belongs to another species.

Brolin explained that he always envisioned the project as an “anti-Jaws,” emphasizing that the ocean should inspire awe and mystery rather than simply fear.

The whale, he explained, bears no ill will toward the diver. Humans are the ones entering the animal’s territory, making the circumstances of the story a consequence of that encounter rather than an act of intentional aggression.

Brolin also described the production as a deeply affectionate tribute to whales, revealing that his appreciation for the animals grew as he learned more about them. He even called the whale the film’s most innocent character — and, in many ways, its hero.

That perspective gives Whalefall an emotional dimension beyond its survival premise. The film isn’t simply about escaping a terrifying situation; it’s about understanding the natural world and our place within it.

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Why Practical Effects Were Essential to the Underwater Thriller

One of the most striking aspects of Whalefall is its physical production design. Rather than relying entirely on computer-generated imagery to create the environment inside the whale, the filmmakers built practical sets that allowed Abrams to physically interact with his surroundings.

Brolin explained that the decision was essential because the film depends on the character constantly pushing against, squeezing through and navigating the whale’s interior.

With the environment physically surrounding Abrams, the actor didn’t have to imagine every obstacle. The confined set could press against him, allowing the physical struggle to become part of the performance.

Brolin believes that realism would be difficult to replicate through digital effects alone, particularly when the actor spends extended periods in a cramped space, struggling and fighting to survive.

The result is a production approach designed to make audiences feel the character’s predicament rather than simply watch it unfold.

For viewers, that physicality becomes central to the film’s tension. Every movement, narrow passage and breath reinforces the feeling that the protagonist is trapped in an environment where survival is never guaranteed.

Austin Abrams on the Physical Challenges of Whalefall vs. Resident Evil

For Abrams, filming Whalefall meant repeatedly returning to an intensely confined environment. The production was shot in sequence, allowing the actor to experience the progression of the story as his character’s ordeal intensified.

Abrams explained that spending day after day inside the whale’s stomach, surrounded by water and restricted space, gradually affected him.

When asked to compare the experience with his work on *Resident Evil,’ he said each film poses its own challenges, kudos to Austin he has been thrown into the most intense practical sets!