Following a festival run last year, Utopia has released a poster and trailer for writer-director Tyler Cornack’s (Butt Boy) genre-blending dark comedy thriller Mermaid.
The film follows Doug (Johnny Pemberton), a drug addict from Florida who feels like he’s hit his lowest point following his divorce and losing his job taking care of the aquarium at a local strip club, until he discovers an injured mermaid and makes it his purpose to nurse her back to health and protect her, at any cost.
Joining Pemberton in the cast are Avery Potemri, Kevin Nealon, Kirk Fox, Julia Larson, Devyn McDowell, Tom Arnold, Robert Patrick and Kevin Dunn. Watch the trailer below…
Doug is an awkward Florida drug addict. Divorced and alone, he shares custody of his young daughter with his ex. Doug’s reeling from losing his job at a local strip club, where he takes care of the fish in the aquarium. Things are beyond bleak — so Doug zips his boat out into the Gulf to end the pain of his reality. But at his lowest point, he discovers an injured Mermaid creature clinging to life. For Doug, it’s a sign from the Universe – so he brings her home, gives her shelter in his tub and begins to nurse her back to health. He even names her Destiny. As their rapport blossoms, word of his secret gets out and he is forced to protect his new friend by any means necessary.
Mermaid is set for release on April 8th.
Originally published March 5, 2026. Updated March 4, 2026.
