TheMovieSearch R
The horror adaptation of The Little Mermaid is one of those surprising genre experiments that isn’t great by any means, but manages to hold your attention long enough to earn a cautious recommendation. It’s a film that plays with the idea of myth turned monstrous—taking the familiar fairytale and twisting it into a darker, bloodier reflection of the original lore. While it stumbles often, especially in performance and tone, there’s enough creativity in the concept to make it worth at least one viewing.
The screenplay takes a bold approach by discarding the traditional Disney magic and diving headfirst into the more sinister origins of mermaid mythology. Instead of a naïve, wide-eyed princess longing for love, this version introduces Aurora—an alluring, predatory mermaid who surfaces on land not for romance, but for revenge and survival. The film leans into the ancient sailor myths of sirens who seduce and destroy men, giving the familiar narrative an eerie, unsettling edge. It’s a premise that works better in theory than execution, but it’s refreshing to see a filmmaker finally embrace the horror potential of such a story.
Aurora, portrayed by an actress whose low, raspy tone often feels mismatched to the role, delivers a performance that’s more monotone than menacing. Her dialogue lacks range, which makes it difficult to fully buy into her character’s manipulative charm. She’s supposed to be seductive and disarming, but instead comes across as distant and flat. A touch more energy or emotional contrast could’ve made her much more compelling, especially in a film where her voice and expression are the main weapons of the narrative.
One of the film’s more clever creative choices is the reworking of familiar names and archetypes. Instead of Prince Eric, we get Eric Prince, an archaeologist leading an underwater excavation that inadvertently awakens Aurora. Sebastian isn’t a talking crab but rather a human character—one who becomes possessed by the mermaid’s influence, functioning as a bridge between the human world and her dark oceanic realm. These references toe the line between homage and parody, but they give fans of the classic tale something to latch onto while keeping the tone grounded in horror.
Visually, the film has a lot going for it. The underwater cinematography is moody and atmospheric, with some surprisingly strong practical effects for what’s clearly a modest budget. The creature design, particularly during the transformation scenes, is imaginative and appropriately grotesque—just enough to make you wish the rest of the movie had been as daring as its visuals. The archaeological dig setting also adds a nice layer of mystery, allowing the story to unfold like a supernatural discovery rather than a fairytale retelling.
Ultimately, The Little Mermaid horror adaptation lands somewhere between curiosity and cult potential. It’s not polished, and it’s not something most people will rush to rewatch, but it’s different enough to stand out amid the sea of formulaic horror releases. The mythology, atmosphere, and moments of creative spark make it worth at least a casual watch, even if the execution doesn’t quite match the ambition. For horror fans and fairytale enthusiasts alike, it’s one of those “check it out once” kind of movies—you won’t regret watching it, but you probably won’t be haunted by it either.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/29/25
Full Review
Amanda H
I actually really liked this.
Disclaimer: I would call this a B movie. And for that, I found it perfect. If you go into this movie expecting an A-lister cast and big budget, you'll be disappointed... And if you clicked on it thinking it at all was similar to the Disney version, think again. Guys, look at the poster. Come on! Definitely a very poor choice on the studio's part to call it The Little Mermaid though, as it also makes their discoverability online very difficult.
The poster also was a poor choice--it DOES do a good job conveying that it is not AT ALL the Disney movie, but I originally clicked on it because I was expecting a cheesy horror movie about a murderous mermaid.
Cheesy? Yeah, it's a B movie. It's got a few moments of a few eye-rolling lines, but this movie was not made expecting to show up at awards shows and isn't just a bunch of cheap gore. The gore is actually very minimal both in terms of effect and occurence.
This is a movie that went in knowing what it was, the actors knew what they were doing and did not come across as disillusioned, everyone delivered.
I thought the acting was fine and the actors worked with what they had. Beautiful location. The Lovecraftian mythos nods were a surprise; those Miskatonic University shirts were the first Easter eggs! The writers actually did do a bit of research.
This wound up being a really pleasant surprise. Instead of a forgettable, throwaway cheap horror movie, the storyline intrigued me. I found it to be a lot of fun and have watched it a few times.
I thought there was more depth to this movie than another movie I just saw recently inspired by mythology, that one DID feature an A-lister, and I liked this one better. The comparison was stark enough to get me started on doing reviews here!
Pairs with: Sour gummy candy, popcorn, edibles
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
09/03/25
Full Review
jon l
I watched this with a group of 16 girls who selected this in hopes it was like the other previous movies similarly named. We could not have been more wrong. This movie was filth and the amount of cussing, simply unnecessary. The conception of this movie idea was poor from the start - and this is the feedback from most all of the girls who watched with me. Most definitely not a family movie.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
03/29/25
Full Review
Nelson C
This Movies Was Actually 100% Greats! Best Horror Movies Evers!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
06/26/25
Full Review
Audience Member
What a dumb movie! Don’t let the title fool you - other than a few familiar names, this was NOTHING like the Disney “Little Mermaid” (also, not one to show the kids).
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
03/08/25
Full Review
Francis W
The plot and story while great, it was executed horribly. The actors c grade at best. I could've done better camera work on my iPhone. The special effects leaves much to be desired. The red lipstick on the gorgeous Lydia Helen, a toddler could've applied it straighter. Paying $6 on amazon is borderline criminal.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
01/21/25
Full Review
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