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‘Mermaids: The Body Found’ proves there’s something mysterious beneath the surface

Courtesy of Animal Planet

If audience members go into Animal Planet’s new TV movie about mermaids with an open mind and sense of adventure, they will find so much to enjoy in the two-hour special. Balancing fact and fiction in that nebulous area known as speculation, Mermaids: The Body Found is one of the best TV shows of the year. It plays like a cinematic cousin to The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, and it never ceases to impress with stunning CGI, clever storytelling and a few tantalizing morsels of indisputable fact.

What’s real and what’s fake on the program will depend on the individual viewer. I went in open to anything and willing to take all of the revelations at face value. I knew that much of the storyline was the work of Hollywood rather than the scientific community, but that didn’t decrease my enjoyment one bit. Mermaids: The Body Found thrives on its ability to teeter-totter back and forth between “actual” and “possible.” This will undoubtedly annoy some purists (mostly those people who don’t believe in Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster or aliens). But for the rest of us — those people who cherish a sense of discovery and mystery in our world — the film will delight.

There are some facts that are substantial. There is an unidentified sound that has been captured at least twice by researchers. It emanates from the depths of the ocean and appears to be organic in nature. No scientist has been able to identify what creature made the sound, but it definitely appears to be a highly-advanced communication system of some sort. Similar to a dolphin, but still distinct. It’s nicknamed “The Bloop,” and it has confounded many theorists for years.

Courtesy of Animal Planet

Another fact: It appears that the mass beaching of whales a few years ago was tied to sonar activity by the United States Navy, even though the military branch denies any fault.

Then there’s the aquatic ape theory, a hypothesis that a strain of our early ancestors took to the seas and morphed into mermaids. Although this sounds like something from a Disney movie, there are some facts that will get your head scratching. First off, open the palm of your hand. In between the fingers will be a fleshy webbing. It’s not exactly fish-like, but it’s very unique to humans. Apes don’t feature this webbing, and it begs the question: How did it get there? You could probably ask the same question of the extra flesh between your toes.

Humans also have subcutaneous fat that helps warm our bodies (similar to dolphins and whales). We can hold our breath for a long period of time. We don’t have hair over our body like our ancestors or ape cousins (perhaps to help us swim?). We have an instinctual ability to survive in water.

All of this evidence doesn’t prove that mermaids exist. However, it does furrow the brow.

One of the strongest bits of evidence is our cultural history. Mermaids have been featured in mythology, paintings and oral traditions for centuries. Could there be a genesis for these stories? Was there some creature that sparked this line of questioning?

Courtesy of Animal Planet

It’s actually easier to believe in mermaids than it is to believe in Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Our planet is mostly made of water, and much of this blue expanse has never been explored. If a Bigfoot dies in the woods, wouldn’t the bones eventually be found? If a mermaid dies in the middle of the ocean, there’s probably no way to confirm its existence.

Mermaids: The Body Found jumps beyond these conspiracy theories and tells another story about a group of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Apparently these “researchers” investigated the Bloop and also autopsied an actual mermaid body. Their most convincing evidence is a short cell phone video filmed by a pair of children on a beach.

SPOILER ALERT: This is probably where Animal Planet uses its creative license.

No matter what’s real or fake, Mermaids: The Body Found delivers on so many levels. Watching the possible evolution of these mermaids in their CGI historical worlds is sometimes breathtaking. Hearing the conspiracy theories is fun. Hearing the facts of the case is extremely interesting. Taken together, the two-hour special, which replays tonight at 7 p.m. EDT, is a perfect kickoff for the summer months. There’s more enjoyment with these finned mythological creatures than most sitcoms and dramas.

Consider me a believer and someone who will now think twice when dipping my toe in the ocean.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

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John Soltes

John Soltes is an award-winning journalist. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Earth Island Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, New Jersey Monthly and at Time.com, among other publications. E-mail him at john@hollywoodsoapbox.com

8 thoughts on “‘Mermaids: The Body Found’ proves there’s something mysterious beneath the surface

  • There is one thing for sure we don’t know what is in our own back yards. The thing that rings true is the very thing that bothers people about Area 51 the pound of truth leaked is convincing and has sold the ounce of lie that spins things off track.
    I’ve long felt this was possible, the filming of events are not alarming but it does sell the government of South Africa is covering up the real reason why we are justifying the killing of marine mammals real purpose. The Nazi relocated there and now control everything there including the diamond trade that finances other clandestend acts; genocide has always been on there agenda from those who walk amungst them and those they have yet to understand, its easier to put them down than it is to understand and them and work with them to what end? I enjoyed what they presented and want to see more.

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  • TheMysteryWriter

    I think that the theory of mermaids is very possible. People discover new ocean species every day, and even two new types of whale in the past decade alone. What I personally thought was fake in the program was the three videos, the one from the cell phone, the one from the boat, and the one from the Navy facility. The ‘mermaids’ in these videos all look computer animated, not to mention the fact that in the cellphone video the two kids never spoke. If I were on that beach I know that I would have spoken to whoever was with me, “What is that,” “Dude Look out,” “Don’t Poke it with a stick!” “It’s hand is moving, bro.” Anything. But the Kids never talked. Also the drawing the child had, a bit convienient that it showed both the eyes and the hand of the creature…. Just saying.

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  • Random Viewer

    Watched the whole show. The videos of the creature on the beach are obviously fake, as well as the one of the fishermen with it in their net. The “mermaid” parts of the video moves out of sync with the rest of the videos. Pretty darn easy to spot.

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  • I have to say ever since I saw the little mermaid I have been hooked. I even read the original. This was an awesome story and it really gets one to think about the actual possibilities of mermaids. I think it is extremely possible that a species existed at some point. I do believe the story of the mermaid body is just a story. The videos were obviously fake. The scientists were actors and any reports of finding a body in a shark were probably multiple species that the shark was digesting. I believe the purpose of the “documentary” was really just another way to promote one to think of the consequences of what they do in the water and to the rest of the earth. Stil an awesome story! I loved it.

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  • I really did enjoy the whole video, being a graphic design graduate it was very easy to see the videos were fake BUT still enjoyable. After reading this article i believe even more in the possibilities of mermaids especially now that is has bee pointed out to me that the “skin” between my fingers is webbing XD ! It just never occurred to me to call it that lol but this was a fun ride and every few months i like to read into recent and older cryptozoology reports and stories and this one was right on time!

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  • I always find it interesting that whenever someone is trying to suggest that we are related to apes they always point out all of the “similarities” between us, but when they want to link us to mermaids then we see how humans have this and apes don’t and we’re told how different we are from apes.

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  • Cariete

    The only reason why I personally doubt that Mermaids exist is because of the video that was played that the boys “recorded.” Its in every way fake and anybody must be retarded to think its real. The boy recording runs and it shows his feet. He would purposely have to point the camera phone in that position and how would he have time for that if some scary creature just jumped at his brother. So is that a fake video because they can’t show the real one to the public? Or is the story about the boys finding the mermaid a myth? I’d like to know!

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  • John

    Bigfoot-we have some video and pictures, Nessie-same, other crytoids-same to some degree, Giant Squid-nothing until they finally filmed it… My point is that if it’s out there it’s just a matter of time that a body of one will drift to the shore. History recorded a couple of incidences where something was foundon a shore somewhere but not saved… Hmmm. I loved the theory and documentory. The whole concept was very intertaining. The videos were obviously staged and/or cgi. All in all I’m waiting for that moment when a real one will drift to shore and we really do have “The Body Found”.

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