Scales (2017)

Scales (2017) has the earnest, old-fashioned charm of a kids’ fantasy adventure that actually believes in wonder—set in a seaside town where the ordinary starts to shimmer the moment its heroine realizes she isn’t who she thought she was. Emmy Perry makes Siren easy to root for, grounding the magical coming-of-age beats with real warmth, while the film’s vibe stays breezy and family-friendly even as it sprinkles in a dash of peril from mermaid hunters and a few genuinely spooky moments. It’s the kind of story that folds friendship, loyalty, and self-discovery into its ocean-salt mythology, inviting you to lean back and remember what it felt like when the world was bigger than you. If you’re craving prestige-level effects or a darker teen edge, this may feel modest, but for viewers in the mood for a sincere, imaginative gateway fantasy, it’s a surprisingly sweet catch.

Scales is clearly aiming for a kid-friendly “secret identity” coming-of-age fantasy, with mermaids, middle-school drama, and a gentle message about empathy and standing up for others. The problem is that the low-budget magic and stiff performances make the big reveals feel more like a school play than a sweeping adventure, and the writing leans on familiar beats without much surprise. The romance and villain plot are easy to follow but pretty flat, so if you’re expecting the emotional pull or visual sparkle of bigger family fantasies, you’ll likely be underwhelmed. Still, younger viewers who just want a simple mermaid story with mild peril and a straightforward moral may find it harmless background viewing.