Mermaid (2025 film)
2025 American film
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Mermaid is a 2025 American action comedy horror thriller film written and directed by Tyler Cornack. The film stars Johnny Pemberton as a troubled Florida man who discovers an injured mermaid and attempts to protect her. The cast also includes Kevin Nealon, Avery Potemri, Kirk Fox, Tom Arnold, Devyn McDowell, Julia Valentine Larson, Robert Patrick, and Kevin Dunn.[1]
Dan Eckerle
Cole Eckerle
Avery Potemri
Kevin Nealon
Kirk Fox
Tom Arnold
Robert Patrick
Kevin Dunn
| Mermaid | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Tyler Cornack |
| Written by | Tyler Cornack |
| Produced by | Daniel Brandt Dan Eckerle Cole Eckerle |
| Starring | Johnny Pemberton Avery Potemri Kevin Nealon Kirk Fox Tom Arnold Robert Patrick Kevin Dunn |
| Cinematography | Joel Lavold |
| Edited by | Cole Eckerle |
| Music by | Tyler Cornack |
Production company | Bad Grey |
| Distributed by | Utopia |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival on March 11, 2025.[2] Following its festival debut, Utopia acquired North American distribution rights.[1] The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 8, 2026.
Plot
Cast
- Johnny Pemberton as Doug
- Avery Potemri as Destiny
- Kevin Nealon as Keith
- Kirk Fox as Skip
- Tom Arnold as Todd
- Devyn McDowell as Layla
- Julia Valentine Larson
- Robert Patrick as Ron Bocca
- Kevin Dunn as Keith
Production
The film was written and directed by Tyler Cornack. It was produced by Daniel Brandt, Dane Eckerle, and Cole Eckerle through the production company Bad Grey.[1]
Principal photography took place prior to its 2025 festival premiere. The film blends elements of action, comedy, horror, and thriller genres.[2]
Release
Mermaid premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 11, 2025, as part of the Narrative Spotlight section.[2] Following its festival debut, the independent distributor Utopia acquired North American distribution rights to the film.[1] The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 8, 2026.
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 22 critics' reviews are positive.[3] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 49 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
Critical response following the film's festival screenings noted its unconventional premise and genre-blending approach. In a review from Variety, the film was described as a surreal Florida-set creature story centered on an unstable protagonist who forms a bond with a wounded mermaid.[4]
ScreenAnarchy described the film as an absurdist comedy that blends elements of crime thriller and creature feature, noting that its unusual tone and dark humor may divide audiences while appealing to viewers receptive to its offbeat style.[5]
Coverage of the film's SXSW premiere highlighted Johnny Pemberton’s performance and the film's unusual blend of dark comedy and creature-feature elements.[6]