Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature (2001)

December 20, 2001 (US) • Horror, Fantasy, TV Movie • 91m

Overview

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.

Director

Sebastian Gutierrez

Writer

Sebastian Gutierrez

Top Billed

Rufus Sewell

Keywords

ship mermaid remake

Where to watch

Check streaming options on TMDB

Top Billed 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

Rya Kihlstedt

Mermaid

Hannah Sim

Queen of the Lair

Jon Sklaroff

Russian Eddie

David Nott

Cook

Dan Hildebrand

Christian

Preston Maybank

Navy Captain

Brian Sieve

Officer Dixon

Matthew Roseman

Officer Jenkins (as Matt Roseman)

Isabella Gutierrez

Miranda

Gabriel Gutierrez

Young O'Donnell

Crew

Lou Arkoff

Producer

Colleen Camp

Producer

Dan J. Birnbaum

Producer

Steve Ecclesine

Line Producer

Samuel Z. Arkoff

Executive Producer

Buddy Epstein

Executive Producer

Joanna Shelmidine

Stunts

Sebastian Gutierrez

Writer

Sebastian Gutierrez

Director

Stan Winston

Producer

Betty Berberian

Set Decoration

Jonathan Golodner

Sound Effects Editor

Mark 'Crash' McCreery

Conceptual Design

Andy Schoneberg

Special Effects Supervisor

Gary Katsuya Ushino

First Assistant Camera

Ed Mitchell

Casting

Bruce H. Newberg

Casting

Georgianne Walken

Casting

Robert Gluck

Location Manager

Michael McDuffee

Transportation Coordinator

Daniel T. Cahn

Editor

Dino A. Moriana

Music Editor

Barbara Cantu

Key Hair Stylist

Kami Asgar

Supervising Sound Editor

Chuck Zlotnick

Still Photographer

Hayley Stuppel

Key Costumer

James M. McCann

Boom Operator

Mary Funsten

First Assistant Camera

Bruce Swift

Key Grip

Hayley Stuppel

Set Costumer

Samantha C. Kirkeby

Script Supervisor

Lance DeSpain

Scenic Artist

D.R. Curtis

Lighting Technician

Steven P. Duchscherer

Property Master

Tim Tuchrello

First Assistant Sound Editor

Chad Mochrie

Assistant Editor

Jerry Fleming

Production Design

Sheila Jaffe

Casting

Julia Schklair

Costume Design

Mark Larry

Sound Effects Editor

Dan Schmit

Visual Effects Supervisor

Myke Michaels

Makeup Department Head

Richard Wetzel

Key Makeup Artist

Shari Steinberg

Casting Associate

Mandi Line

Assistant Costume Designer

Stephanie Coffey

Makeup Artist

Darryl Wilson

Dolly Grip

Thomas L. Callaway

Director of Photography

Shane Mahan

Special Effects Supervisor

Lynn M. van Kuilenburg

Location Manager

David Reynolds

Music

Wayne Springfield

Construction Coordinator

Bob Arons

Sound Effects Editor

Mark Hartzell

Assistant Editor

Peter Borck

Art Direction

Christina Ann Wilson

Assistant Art Director

Pamela Kahn

Foley

Amy C. Halpern

Gaffer

Casey Ellison

Lighting Technician

Reviews

Wuchak

⭐ 7/10

April 1, 2020

_**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+

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Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature (2001)

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Reviews

Wuchak

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