Fantastic Fest 2023- Fishmonger has it all, including tentacle sex, an ancient sea creature, frequent projectile vomiting, and plenty of other gross-out moments. Yet, despite the short’s truly gonzo moments, it’s also a deeply personal love story about two outcasts.

Directed by Neil Ferron, who co-wrote the script with Alexandra Dennis-Renner, the black and white film stars Dominic Burgess as Christie O’Mallaghan, a dude who has very little going for him on an isolated island in the 19th Century. He’s not a good fisherman. Heck, he can’t even drink with the boys. To make matters worse, his mom, Kathleen (Mari Weiss), is dying. Her body is covered with puss and boils, which constantly burst and spew white gunk upon her son. I said this movie has plenty of yucky moments, right? For whatever reason, if Christie doesn’t wed soon, his mother’s soul will burn in hell.

To save his mom, Christie goes on a quest to summon an ancient sea creature, who goes by the name of Sinead (Donnla Hughes). The only wish he makes is that Penny O’Brien (Penny O’Brien) marry him. However, Christie and Sinead realize they have more in common than not and fall in love with each other. Believe me, Fishmonger is the weirdest love story that you’ll ever see.

Despite the movie’s absolutely whacky premise, there are plenty of positives here. The film looks great, a cross between old Universal Monster movies, especially the first few minutes, and Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse, which is cited as one of the key influences in the press notes. To add, the film uses just about all practical effects, including miniatures. The creature looks fantastic, a cross between a mermaid and a female version of the Gill-man. Hughes’ performance lends personality, heart, and humor to the character, and like those classic Universal Monsters, we come to sympathize with Sinead and her Otherness.

Underneath the tentacles, white goop, and utter strangeness, Fishmonger is a very personal story about two outcasts. Ferron is a talent to watch.

7.5 Out of 10