Mermaid (2026) Review: A Sad, Strange Florida Fish Tale

This Mermaid review starts with a warning: Tyler Cornack's film is not the sweet fairy tale its title suggests. It is a grimy, funny, strange creature feature about loneliness, addiction and one very bad stretch of Florida coastline. It premiered at SXSW in 2025 and reaches wider audiences in 2026.

If you like your comedy dark and your romance odd, read on.

Mermaid Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

Doug Nelson (Johnny Pemberton) is a divorced, broke Florida man who has just lost his job at a strip club. He is hooked on pills and, in the opening stretch, he takes his boat out into the Gulf of Mexico at the lowest point of his life. Then he finds an injured mermaid clinging to life.

He takes her home. His fascination turns into a lopsided relationship that feeds his decline rather than fixing it. Once word of his secret gets out, Doug sets out to protect her.

The Mermaid plot will remind some viewers of Splash and The Shape of Water. The difference is the tone: this is closer to a Florida-soaked cousin of Leaving Las Vegas or Bad Lieutenant than a fable. It is a mix of comedy and action with horror edges.

What Works in Mermaid

The creature design is the film's most obvious success. Critics have praised the makeup effects and the distinctive look of the mermaid, which feels tactile and weird rather than polished. It gives the movie a handmade charm.

The Florida setting also pays off. The locations are well chosen, and the story could not happen anywhere else. Cornack treats the state as both a punchline and a trap.

The film also has real ambition for a small production:

• A sincere emotional core beneath the absurdity

• A memorable, unconventional monster romance

• A clear sense of place along the Gulf coast

Mermaid Cast and Performances

The Mermaid cast is led by Johnny Pemberton as Doug, and he is the reason the film holds together. Many reviewers single out his sincerity amid the chaos. His portrayal of crushing loneliness gives the jokes somewhere to land, though at least one critic found his lead turn weak.

Avery Potemri plays Destiny, and the supporting cast adds a lot of familiar color. Kevin Nealon appears as Keith, Kirk Fox as Skip, Tom Arnold as Todd and Robert Patrick as Ron Bocca. These veterans bring a loose, lived-in feel to Doug's world.

A Lead Who Divides Opinion

Pemberton plays Doug as pitiable rather than heroic. That choice suits the story, but it can be uncomfortable to watch. How much you enjoy the film depends on whether you buy his sad-sack charm.

Where Mermaid Stumbles

The biggest complaint is tone. One reviewer called the film tonally all over the place, never quite landing the comedy, the horror or the more heartfelt moments. It swerves between jokes, melancholy and creature mayhem without always finding a rhythm.

Some viewers also feel it plays like a small experimental art project rather than a fully developed feature. Metacritic's score of 49 from four critics reflects that mixed response, even though Rotten Tomatoes critics are far warmer at around 92%. Audience scores are lukewarm: IMDb users give it 6.6 out of 10.

The central relationship is also deliberately one-sided. That is the point, but it makes the middle stretch feel repetitive for anyone not on the film's wavelength.

Is Mermaid Worth Watching?

Yes, if you enjoy offbeat, low-budget cult cinema and can tolerate rough edges. It is a messy film, but it has a distinct voice, a strong creature design and a lead performance with heart.

So, is Mermaid worth watching for a casual weekend movie night? Probably not for everyone. Viewers who want a clean genre blend may bounce off, while those who like strange, sad comedies like this one by Tyler Cornack) will find plenty to chew on. The film runs 106 minutes and is not rated, so expect adult themes including drug use.

If you want something else with a different flavor, try Fuze for a tenser ride, or browse more horror movie reviews.

Who Will Enjoy Mermaid

• Fans of dark comedies and cult oddities who like their stories weird and sincere

• Viewers who enjoyed Splash or The Shape of Water and want a grungier, funnier take

• Anyone curious about Johnny Pemberton in a leading role