Watch Mermaids: The Body Found

In 2011, Animal Planet aired a two-hour long mockumentary titled Mermaids: The Body Found, which immediately grabbed the attention of viewers worldwide. The film explores the possibility of the existence of mermaids – mythical half-human half-fish creatures – through interviews with scientists, eyewitnesses, and archival footage.

The movie is presented as a mocumentary, with actors portraying scientists and a team of filmmakers who are investigating the discovery of an alleged mermaid corpse. The team claims to have found the body of a mermaid on a beach in Washington State, and they present their findings in a series of interviews and reenactments.

One of the main characters in the movie is Dr. Paul Robertson, played by Sean Cameron Michael. He is a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who is leading the investigation on the mermaid body. He interviews eyewitnesses who swear they have seen mermaids, as well as fishermen who claim to have had their nets destroyed by these creatures. Through these interviews, Paul builds an intriguing case that mermaids do exist.

Another character of the film, Dr. Brian McCormick, played by Andre Weideman, is a former researcher with the Navy who has been studying the possibility of marine mammals evolving to have human-like features. He argues that with the decreasing food supply, mammals could have evolved to become more intelligent and adapt to the changing ocean environment. This theory is supported by the claim that many of the unexplained disappearances of ships and submarines in the ocean may have been caused by mermaids.

Candice D’Arcy plays the role of a marine biologist named Lily. She presents evidence that supports the existence of mermaids by explaining that many marine mammals have undergone a process called convergent evolution, meaning they have evolved similar features to other mammals for survival in their environment. For instance, dolphins and whales both evolved from land animals, and their body shape and behavior have similarities to those of terrestrial mammals.

The film also includes archival footage of supposed mermaid sightings throughout history, including old paintings and drawn reports of sailors claiming to have seen them. The documentary visits the aquatic ape theory, which suggests that humans evolved from an aquatic ape, explaining why we have hairless skin, swim reflexes, and are attracted to water. This theory can also explain why mermaids have human-like features as they could have descended from the same aquatic apes.

The movie alternates between interviews with “experts” and dramatized scenes of the supposed mermaid body being found, dissected, and studied. The team takes precautions to protect its existence through special methods such as isolating it in ice to protect it from decaying or examine it underwater to preserve its integrity.

Mermaids: The Body Found does an excellent job of blending science and fiction, making viewers think at least for a moment that the discovery of mermaids is possible. The use of CGI is subtle and helps visualize the possible behaviors and anatomy of the creature. They take realism to the next level by creating a combination of CGI make-up and underwater filming to create a form that looks almost tangible.

Overall, Mermaids: The Body Found is an engaging and thought-provoking mockumentary that presents an appealing premise of the existence of these mythical creatures. The acting and production values are impressive, and the use of compelling evidence and corresponding theories is convincing enough to make viewers think of the possibilities.