Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature

"Beatiful, seductive and totally deadly."

2001 1h 31m EN

😐

5.8

MID

🥫

38%

ROTTEN

⭐

5.8

IMDB

★5.8TMDB · 101🥫38%Rotten Tomatoes★5.8IMDB · 4,122

HorrorFantasyTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Two carnies (Sewell and Gugino) abduct a mermaid in Ireland, circa 1900, and decide to transport her to America. As their ship loses its way and heads towards the mythical Forbidden Islands, the mermaid begins to display its deadly side.

“Beatiful, seductive and totally deadly.”

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Cast

Rufus Sewell
Angus
Carla Gugino
Lily
Jim Piddock
Captain Dunn
Reno Wilson
Bailey
Mark Aiken
Gifford
Fintan McKeown
Skelly
Aubrey Morris
Mr. Woolrich
Gil Bellows
Miles

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sebastian Gutierrez
Writers: Sebastian Gutierrez
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

25 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, shot by Thomas L. Callaway. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Daniel T. Cahn shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Rufus Sewell and Carla Gugino and Jim Piddock carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Beatiful, seductive and totally deadly.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0274659 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sebastian Gutierrez directs. Thomas L. Callaway behind the camera. Daniel T. Cahn cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

125 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, shot by Thomas L. Callaway. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Daniel T. Cahn shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Rufus Sewell and Carla Gugino and Jim Piddock carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "Beatiful, seductive and totally deadly.".
6IMDB entry: tt0274659 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Thomas L. Callaway
Editing: Daniel T. Cahn
Production design: Jerry Fleming
Costume design: Julia Schklair
Makeup / hair: Barbara Cantu
VFX supervisor: Dan Schmit
Runtime: 91 min · 1h 31m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes: 38% 🥫 Rotten
IMDB rating: 5.8/10 · 4,122 votes
MPAA: R

Awards

1 win & 3 nominations total

Also by

Sebastian Gutierrez

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2020-04-01
★ 7/10
This ain't no "Little Mermaid" Released to TV and video in 2001, "Sea Creature" is about a couple of carnies (Rufus Sewell & Carla Gugino) in the early 20th century who come across a real mermaid in Ireland (Rya Kihlstedt), which they apprehend and intend to transport to America as a freakshow attraction. Horror ensues. Reno Wilson and Gil Bellows are also on hand. Originally called simply "Sea Creature" the movie was unnecessarily burdened with the overlong title of "Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature," which doesn't make sense since there's no "Part 2," although the ending leaves room for that possibility. The movie plays like a modern-day Hammer flick with elements of "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "Species" and "Alien/Aliens." While it lacks the budget of those three films, the production is comparable to those Hammer horror movies that take place during the Victorian era. "Sea Creature" also shares similarities to 1961's haunting "Night Tide" with Dennis Hopper, which also was about a (possible) mermaid. There are three basic settings in the movie: The opening carnival sequence that segues into a (sorta) castle sequence and, lastly, the long ship sequence that takes up the bulk of the story. The last one reveals the greatest weakness of the movie in that sailing on a ship is a limited setting, which makes for a little dullness here and there, but the flick makes up for it with an over-the-top horrific last act. The renowned Stan Winston was on hand as producer and you can tell with the excellent F/X of something revealed at the end, which is on par with the Aliens, Predator, and Pumpkinhead movies. No kidding. While a TV movie, "Sea Creature" is adult-oriented in that the mermaid is top-nude the entire movie (the horror, the horror!) and there's at least one overt simulated sex scene. Keep in mind, however, that the movie was shooting for realism and not raunch; not to mention that redemption and comeuppance factor into the equation. BOTTOM LINE: Despite a couple of dull or dubious scenes, "Sea Creature" delivers the goods for those who appreciate Hammer's haunting Victorian-era films, as well as movies like "Bram Stoker's Dracula," albeit understandably no where near as lavish as Coppola's film. Carla shines in both beauty and acting chops, as does Rya (who's been married to Bellows since 1994); and Sewell plays a superlative protagonist. "Sea Creature" shows that a quality product can be made on a TV budget. The film runs 91 minutes and was shot in California. GRADE: B+

Production companies