SXSW 2025 Review: “Mermaid” – A Twisted Creature Feature!
The variations and modernization of myths and folklore has been evident in the differentiating stories we are told as children. The Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Anderson introduced a lot of us to magical creatures while Disney gave us the lens in which to view these famous characters and stories. Reading and watching these stories as adults, it is obvious the changes and creative license taken to change these tales over centuries. Mermaids have always been a popular creature in media, from our first experiences with them in The Little Mermaid and Splash to more modern adaptations like Aquamarine.
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Mermaid, which premiered at SXSW 2025, directed by Tyler Cornack heads back to the roots established about mermaids in which they are much scarier than Ariel. Doug Nelson (Johnny Pemberton) discovers a mermaid while working his dead end job at a Florida nightclub and decides to protect her at all costs from a group of men who will do what they can to find her and capitalize on their new discovery.
Mermaid is a perfect encapsulation of the dirty and grimy Florida setting it wishes to portray to match the characters and series of situations it brings forth. As stated in the film, one can travel the world and come back to Florida each time and be placed in a new deranged story with colorful characters and storybook like scenarios. This is what keeps people coming back. Cornack displays this sentiment to a T in Doug’s impossible discovery and a set of supporting characters that range from a high heels wearing ex-girlfriends to grimy old men on yachts.
For fans of films like Spring Breaks and Zola, Mermaid captures the insanity of those living in the middle of Florida with seemingly no rules. The practical effects in the film are impressive in the suit created for Avery Potemri who portrayed the mermaid and the gore that ensues later.
Jonah Hauer-King talking about “The Little Mermaid”, Halle and swimming in 2025! 🧜🏾♀️ (press tour for “The Threesome” during SXSW Festival) pic.twitter.com/jT2lnPWB6y
— Maria’s brainrot 🫐 (@HyperfixationMM) March 12, 2025
Mermaid is a little too scattered brained in its themes and direction for those looking for a more coherent and clear story. Therefore, the pacing struggles to find its footing. Creating a story that portrays more vignettes than an A to B plot is often a great time but Mermaid doesn’t have as much direction throughout to have it succeed in either storytelling avenues. Doug Nelson is a character who struggles with addiction, thus struggling to balance his job and daughter.
Mermaid seems to be a film about a man centering himself in the middle of a mythological story to separate himself from his failures as a father. He feels he’s already failed in this endeavor so to put meaning and purpose back into his life he makes it his mission to make the mermaid and her safety his priority. This idea is touched on in the film even if it could have been a deeper subject to put at the helm of the film. Mermaid is a bit of a mixed bag but for anyone looking for a trashy Florida set film, this may just do the trick.
‘Mermaid (2025)’ Rating – 2/5
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