‘Mermaid’ Review – Aquatic Creature Feature Makes A Memorable Splash

Welcome to Florida, as the slogan reads, and oh, boy, what a welcome it is! Mermaid is a creature feature that takes you deep into the depths and unearths a dark, yet strangely funny, surprise. In a story like The Shape of Water, with a hint of Splash, the film shakes up a tropical cocktail so intriguing and unpredictable that I could not look away. There is an air of horror that runs throughout. However, it mixes genres to deliver something that does not belong at the bottom of the sea but on the surface, to be experienced and enjoyed.

Set in Florida, the story introduces a drug addict and deadbeat dad, Doug (Johnny Pemberton). While he is at his lowest professional and emotional level, he is an endearing fellow whom we can root for to succeed. The unexpected arises when he finds a wounded mermaid (Avery Potemri). Nursing the creature, Destiny, back to health, while keeping it a secret, Doug forms an unexplained bond that straddles the line between platonic and romantic. However, when word gets out about his aquatic friend, Doug will stop at nothing to save her.

First off, the design of Destiny is astonishing for both its realism and poetic expression. Costume designer Sara Lukaszewski creates a unique look that sets it apart from the common perception of mermaids. Do not think of Daryl Hannah from Splash. This mermaid is an unusual creature similar to the look of the Gill-Man in The Shape of Water. Second, Potemri’s performance enhances the creature’s look and believability. Visually terrifying and with erratic movements, Potemri can project a pinwheel of emotion without speaking a line of dialogue. 

The Shape of Water flashes through my mind, but in part because the work being done on the creature in Mermaid is as effective and gripping as the performance given by Doug Jones in the Oscar-winning film. All involved in this project deserve a standing-O. The mermaid is wholly original in its look and tugs on the emotional heartstrings with a mesmerizing performance. 

Now, another strong component that keeps Mermaid from sinking is Pemberton’s lead performance. His at times deadpan delivery and candor make him a character worth rooting for, even though his life is in shambles. In a story that works with many tones, Pemberton’s ability to hit on both the comedic and dramatic points gives the film an energy that keeps right on swimming from start to finish. 

The story of his drug addiction is not a throwaway, but a part of the narrative that adds dramatic weight. On one hand, the film could serve as a metaphor for addiction and loneliness. All of that would have made for a fine story, but the additional elements raise the stakes into something that heralds greatness. 

While the core of the movie is the story of Doug and his aquatic companion, it introduces several additional elements that, in any other context, would be jarring. However, because the story involves a mermaid (one who does not look like Ariel), it works. There is a dramatic throughline involving Doug and his estrangement from his younger daughter, Layla (Devyn McDowell). These moments never feel forced, and they add dramatic weight to the struggles in Doug’s life and to the vexing, yet cathartic, presence of a mermaid. 

Further, the movie has a comedic undertone throughout. At times, the story plays like a stoner comedy. There are elements in spades with Robert Patrick as Ron Bocca, a drug dealer and all-around dirtbag who adds more chaos to Doug’s plate. Now, the story never devolves into camp and keeps the humor light but biting. There is even a thriller element to the narrative once Destiny is snatched and Doug has to save the day. There is even a brief appearance by Kevin Dunn in a scene that reminds me of the ending to Taken, though in a much more biting, aquatic fashion. 

Mermaid accomplishes its hook by presenting as a creature feature, for which it is. At the start of the movie, I went in expecting nothing more than a monster movie. Tom Arnold makes a cameo in a shocking cold open. However, the real effect lies in the emotional arc and light comedy. It is a story of a man rescuing a mermaid, yes, but it is also one of self-discovery and friendship. Beautifully weird and full of emotional depth, this one makes a splash in a big way. 

Mermaid will be released in select theaters on April 8, 2026, courtesy of Utopia.