Deadly Mermaids and Disco: A Unique Retelling of a Classic Tale
Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska, The Lure (Córki Dancingu) is a musical horror mermaid story, in which two sisters — Silver and Golden — journey out of the ocean to join a disco troupe in 1980s Poland. As they partake in the cabaret life and explore the human world, Silver becomes fascinated with the bassist and begins to fall in love, much to the disdain of Golden, who has more interest in consuming men than loving them.
While it hits the same story beats as a more traditional version of “The Little Mermaid,” The Lure expands the story in surprising and beautiful ways. For example, the relationship between the sisters is powerful, as their love for each other is clear even through their disagreements. They hardly speak to each other (or at all) in the presence of humans, but have a secret silent form of communication demonstrated through movement and internal aquatic sounds that illustrate their deeper relationship and desires.
The design of this movie is vibrant and over the top. In particular, the physicality of the mermaid tales are an unsettling delight from a monster creation perspective. The tales are huge, powerful, and almost ugly in their eel-like weight — clearly developed for moving through ocean currents than for aesthetic appeal. Yet, the tails are beautiful in how they curl around the room and…
