“Eternal love comes at a deadly price.”

Original Title: Русалка: Озеро мертвых
Genre: Supernatural Horror | Thriller | Dark Fairy Tale
Director: Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy
Writers: Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy, Natalya Dubovaya, Ivan Kapitonov
Starring: Viktoriya Agalakova, Efim Petrunin, Sofia Shidlovskaya, Nikita Elenev
Country: Russia
Language: Russian (with English subtitles available)
Runtime: 90 minutes
Release Date: July 19, 2018

🌊 Overview

The Mermaid: The Lake of the Dead is a haunting Russian horror film that reimagines Slavic folklore with a modern twist. This is not the fairy tale mermaid you know from children’s stories—this one is vengeful, undead, and relentlessly seductive.

Set around a mystical, cursed lake, the film follows a young couple who become entangled in an ancient tragedy when an evil mermaid spirit tries to destroy their love and claim the man for herself—forever.

Blending mythology, gothic romance, and psychological horror, this film immerses viewers in a world where love is tested by supernatural forces, and where the past never stays buried.

📖 Plot Summary

Roman, a young man on the verge of marriage, goes to a bachelor party near a secluded forest lake. There, he encounters a mysterious woman in white—strange, beautiful, and chilling. The encounter leaves him entranced… and cursed.

As Roman returns home, his behavior becomes erratic. He is haunted by terrifying visions and drawn back to the lake by an irresistible force. His fiancée, Marina, senses something is terribly wrong and starts to investigate.

She soon learns about the legend of a drowned maiden, betrayed in love and cursed to linger beneath the surface of the lake. This creature, now a mermaid spirit, lures men to their deaths—using love as her weapon.

With time running out and Roman slipping further under the mermaid’s spell, Marina must race to break the curse, facing ancient dark forces and confronting her own fears to save the man she loves.

🧜‍♀️ The Mermaid: Not Just a Monster

In this story, the mermaid isn’t just a creature of horror—she’s a symbol of broken love, of a woman betrayed and consumed by vengeance. Her beauty hides her true, decayed form, and her voice can enslave even the strongest mind.

She is tragic.
She is terrifying.
And she wants Roman.

👥 Main Cast & Characters

• Viktoriya Agalakova as Marina – The courageous and loving fiancée who refuses to give up on Roman.

• Efim Petrunin as Roman – The groom-to-be, slowly losing his soul to the mermaid’s curse.

• Sofia Shidlovskaya as The Mermaid – The ghostly siren of the lake, cursed by a heartbreak that still fuels her fury.

• Nikita Elenev as Ivan – Roman’s brother, who knows the lake’s secrets.

• Igor Khripunov as The Monk – A mysterious figure guarding ancient knowledge.

🕯️ Themes & Symbolism

• Betrayal and Curses – The mermaid is born of a cruel betrayal, and her curse is a manifestation of emotional scars turned deadly.

• Love vs. Obsession – Marina’s genuine love contrasts with the mermaid’s possessive and supernatural obsession.

• Folklore and Legacy – The film taps deeply into Slavic myths, bringing ancient fears into the modern world.

• Water as Death and Rebirth – The lake is both grave and gateway; beauty on the surface, horror beneath.

🎥 Visual Style

The film is visually stunning, with:

• Fog-covered forests

• A hauntingly beautiful lake

• Dream-like transitions between real and unreal

• Creepy underwater sequences and decaying imagery

• A muted, cold color palette reflecting the tone of doom and sorrow

🔥 Why It Stands Out

While many supernatural horror films focus on jump scares, The Mermaid: The Lake of the Dead combines emotional storytelling with folklore-based horror. It’s more gothic than gory, more poetic than brutal.

It’s a story about how deep love can run—and how deadly it can become when twisted by vengeance.

Fans of The Ring, The Witch, or Sleepy Hollow will appreciate the mood and pacing of this eerie tale.

🩸 Taglines & Quotes

• “Don’t look into her eyes… or you’ll never look away.”

• “Love her—and she’ll never let go.”

• “The lake remembers every tear it has swallowed.”

📣 Reception

Though it received mixed reviews internationally, The Mermaid: The Lake of the Dead was praised for its atmospheric cinematography, unique take on mermaid mythology, and emotional depth. It became a cult favorite among horror fans looking for something outside the typical Hollywood mold.

Related movies: