De zeemeerman

I bought the Dutch DVD which contains only Dutch audio and no subtitles (my Dutch isn't the best though).

I don't think the film is that bad. It has very funny moments, the actors are all above average and even the few f/x are really nice to see.

The story of the film is at times somewhat strange, indeed, but however the film has its funny highlights. I really saw films which were much more worse.

Conclusion: "De Zeemeerman" is a nice Dutch movie with great actors and it is not that bad as many people say.

PS: I also like the soundtrack - especially the title theme!

Many people from The Netherlands, where this movie originates from, refer to it as the worst movie ever made in their country. And you know what? Those many people are right, "De Zeemeerman" is a hopeless dud.

And yet, the project once started out as one of the more ambitious Dutch film-ideas in history. Director/Co-writer Frank Herrebout got inspired by the massive international success of "Jurassic Park" and wanted to make The Netherlands' very own Sci-Fi/adventure about megalomaniacal scientists, genetic experiments gone wrong, and freaky creatures on the loose. It was going to be spectacular, with never-before-seen hi-tech special effects and lots of international appeal, but alas...

"De Zeemeerman" became a big flop. The plot is far too preposterous, ridiculous, implausible, infantile, and imbecilic for a Sci-Fi/fantasy. It feels more like a light-hearted sex-comedy, and that's eventually also what the film poster wanted you to believe, but it isn't nearly funny or sexy enough. In the end, it's absolutely nothing at all. Or, like the famous local expression says, it's neither fish nor meat.

Deranged scientist Swezick inserts a fertilized female egg into the uterus of a sea lion and flushes the animal down the toilet. Nine months later, there's a baby floating in the sea who can breathe underwater. He's rescued by two fishermen that raise him, and he grows up to be a handsome young man with sadly one insurmountable problem: he smells incredibly fishy! Better said, he stinks of fish! When the two fishermen die in a silly way, Tony is on his own. He is excluded, cheated, and bullied, but through a friendly neighbor he comes into possession of a potion that makes him invisible. In fact, why am I even bothering to summarize? Nobody should read a synopsis for "De Zeemeerman", let alone consider watching it.

Several famous and successful Dutch actors got tricked into starring in this film, like Huub Stapel, Peter Faber, and Serge-Henri Valcke. I bet none of them like to be reminded about this low point in their careers. For about half an hour, or so, the silliness is still funny and charming to behold, but then the whole thing becomes simply unwatchable. Awful acting by the lead performers, lame jokes, pathetic plot twists, annoying music, and a running time that outstays its welcome; - that's "De Zeemeerman". Special thanks (or not) to the horror & cult film-magazine "Schokkend Nieuws" for bringing this turkey to my attention again. I hadn't thought about it since I held the VHS-box in my hands in my local video store in the late 90s. Even then, I was smart enough not to rent it.

If I hadn't been the projectionist, I would have walked away! This film is absolutely the most horrible film ever made in the history of Dutch film making. The so-called special effects are prehistoric and the acting is overtly bad. If you are planning to rent this film; please do not think of it as an example of Dutch craftsmanship, but think of it as a very ill attempt to create a Disney-like fantasy movie.

I am not from the Netherlands, so it is difficult for me to say where this film is among their film productions. For me, it was just a foreign comedy film. Unfortunately, I wasn't in the mood for comedy in bad taste. Therefore, the film seemed to me very sad, vulgar and often disgusting.

The main character is very sorry, he tries to join human society, but he constantly turns out to be an outcast, and the people who accept him constantly die. I think the author of the film is a bit of an idiot and has no sense of proportion. However, it's possible that I just wasn't set up for the right aspect to watch this movie. After all, if the main character is treated the same as all the negative characters in the film or is not considered a person for most of the film, then it will be quite fun. I saw this movie more than 25 years ago and I still feel sorry for the time spent watching it on TV. I could just stare at the carpet or switch channels until I fall asleep, but no-I gave it a chance. And I'm sorry about that. It should have just been called "The Bitter Story of an Orphan who Stinks of Fish," but no, they gave it a cool and promising title, which I bought into. Don't repeat my mistake. This film should be watched by professionals for money, or by those who starred in it or want to see the Netherlands at that time.

Many people in Holland don't like this movie. But i found it a funny film that offers a lot of interesting scenes.

The story is not realistic and that is something that i like most about the film. Not many Dutch films are fantasy films, this is one of the few that present a fairy tale sort of story.

Most of the special digital effects are amazingly good for the time they were made.

What i liked best was the musical score. This is very good! As well as the set decoration.

Not so good: the acting of some of the minor roles in the film.