There are things in our life that stick with us. Sometimes it’s for the good, and sometimes it’s events and relationships that haunt us. It can often take something big to break through and move on, to make peace with the past.

Whalefall, which is based on the novel of the same name, is an extreme example of that. While its hook is a man trying to survive the unsurvivable, its core is about a meditation on grief, loss, and acceptance. That’s what makes it a powerful journey.

Jay (Austin Abrams) is lost in his life. His father, Mitt (Josh Brolin), was a great diver but a hard man. He imparted both his knowledge and his hardness on his son. Now a year on from his death, Jay is still stuck with painful memories and no way to move on.

Mitt was ill and chose to go out on his own terms, resting somewhere in the bay. Jay decides to bring closure to himself and his family by heading out and finding his father’s body, bringing it back to everyone. It’s a perilous journey, but one he feels qualified to make.

Jay heads out, a lone man with his gear. As he searches the depths near the shore, he finds something unexpected—a Sperm Whale. Soon, Jay finds himself swallowed with a ticking clock if he’s to survive.

The hook here is the whale. But if you’re expecting something like Pinocchio, where he’s just waiting in a cave to be spit out, this isn’t that. This is a harrowing journey that is something like a body horror drama. And it’s compelling.

Equally as compelling is the exploration of grief and loss. Jay and his father had a difficult relationship. The scars of their back-and-forth haunt him and drive him, even as he wants something completely different. The flashbacks and interludes not only provide context for Jay’s journey, but also for the journey he’s on trying to free himself from the clutches of the whale.

It’s been quite a fall for Abrams. He did a great job carrying Resident Evil in September, and now he’s mostly left to carry this story as well. He is in nearly every scene and does a great job conveying emotion and struggle. You’re bought into his journey and along for the ride with him. And it’s powerful.

Director Brian Duffield, who adapted the novel for the screen, does a great job of creating this world and bringing it to life. At times it’s an uncomfortable and harrowing journey, and at times I was deeply moved. This is a film that delivers and is an interesting and engaging addition to the Fall lineup at theaters.

Whalefall is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.