The Lure

2017 • 92 minutes

About this movie

In this bold, genre-defying horror-musical mashup — the playful and confident debut of Polish director Agnieszka Smoczynska — a pair of carnivorous mermaid sisters are drawn ashore in an alternate '80s Poland to explore the wonders and temptations of life on land. Their tantalizing siren songs and otherworldly aura make them overnight sensations as nightclub singers in the half-glam, half-decrepit fantasy world of Smoczynska's imagining. In a visceral twist on Hans Christian Andersen's original Little Mermaid tale, one sister falls for a human, and as the bonds of sisterhood are tested, the lines between love and survival get blurred. A savage coming-of-age fairytale with a catchy new-wave soundtrack, lavishly grimy sets, and outrageous musical numbers, The Lure explores its themes of sexuality, exploitation, and the compromises of adulthood with energy and originality.

Ratings and reviews

A Pearl With Flaws In Poland, the genres of horror and musicals are scarce in native films. Hence, The Lure became popular. I appreciated the unconventional narrative but disliked the emphasis of the female anatomy (of a mammal of the earth or sea). Also, I thought that the music was mediocre and did not always blend well with the action on the screen. My favorite part of the movie is its atmospheric beginning, represented by animation.

Interesting take on the traditional siren/mermaid mythos.

Weird... But good weird.