Sometimes a movie has all the right ingredients but still manages to serve up a bland, unsatisfying meal. That's the unfortunate fate of Mermaid, a new film starring the talented Johnny Pemberton that promises a quirky blend of horror and comedy but delivers neither. Despite an intriguing setup and capable actors, the film flounders from the start, leaving viewers wondering how such a potentially fun concept could feel so tedious.
What's the Story?
Pemberton plays Doug, a down-on-his-luck fishkeeper living a dreary life on the Florida coast. After losing his job maintaining a strip club's aquarium, his already bleak existence hits rock bottom. During a misguided boat trip, he discovers a wounded, grotesque mermaid (Avery Potemri) and decides to bring her home, naming her Destiny and keeping her sedated in his bathtub. The plot should kick into high gear from here, but instead, it meanders. A bizarre attempt to disguise the creature and bring her to a child's birthday party aims for outrageous humor but lands with a thud, emblematic of the film's struggle to find its tone.
You'd expect a man finding a mythical sea creature—especially one of the frightening, scaly variety—to spark a wild chain of events. Shockingly, the narrative only lurches forward when two characters randomly break into Doug's home for no apparent reason. The movie then tries to pivot into crime-thriller territory, but by this point, any audience investment has long since drifted away. At around 100 minutes, Mermaid feels much longer, dragging its fins through a story with no clear direction, momentum, or compelling reason to watch.
A Cast Adrift
This is particularly disappointing given the actors involved. Johnny Pemberton, who stole scenes as the hilariously delusional Bo on Superstore, is a master of playing lovable oddballs. Here, he's saddled with a script that renders Doug not just hapless but often uncomfortably creepy. The character's poor decisions and immature parenting make him difficult to root for, preventing the emotional connection the story desperately needs. Pemberton tries his best, but the material simply isn't there.
Veteran actor Robert Patrick appears as Ron, a local gangster with ties to Doug's family. While Patrick's presence is a welcome dose of charisma—a reminder of his iconic turn in classic genre films—the role gives him little to work with. The potential for a compelling showdown between Patrick and Pemberton is wasted, lost in a murky plot that does neither performer any favors.
Florida? Barely Noticeable
The film opens by declaring itself a "love letter to Florida," but you'd be hard-pressed to feel any affection. While we see boats, water, and Patrick in Hawaiian shirts, the setting lacks the distinctive, vibrant, or grimy character that other films have captured so well. It could be any generic coastal town, missing the opportunity to leverage Florida's unique, sun-drenched weirdness that could have added much-needed flavor. For a more successful dive into regional comedy, check out I Love LA on HBO.
If there's one element that works, it's the practical effects makeup by Trudie Storck. The mermaid is a genuinely disgusting creation, blending aquatic and reptilian features with long fangs and scaly, barnacle-encrusted skin. It's effectively gross, which makes Doug's peculiar attachment to the creature even stranger. Yet, Destiny remains a mere prop, a non-character who fails to drive the plot or forge a meaningful relationship with Doug. She's less a co-star and more a macguffin that doesn't actually motivate anyone.
Final Verdict
Mermaid is a classic case of a great idea executed poorly. It's not scary enough for horror fans, not funny enough for comedy lovers, and too aimless for those seeking a compelling drama. It wastes the considerable talents of Johnny Pemberton and Robert Patrick on a script that can't decide what it wants to be. In a landscape filled with inventive genre blends, this one sinks without a trace. If you're looking for a surprise hit that actually delivers laughs, you're better off with something like Gaten Matarazzo's 'Pizza Movie' on Hulu. For genuine chills, explore our list of forgotten '70s horror gems instead.
