British filmmaker Jo Southwell is reeling in something eerie from the deep. Her latest feature, The Catch, is an atmospheric horror-thriller set against the windswept coast of Cornwall, blending folklore, obsession, and psychological terror into one chilling tale.
The film boasts a powerhouse cast, led by Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors, Vikings), Ben Miles (The Crown, Coupling), Omid Djalili, and rising star Lizzie Aaryn-Stanton. Written by Cornish siblings Emily Barr and Craig Barr-Green, the story follows a driven chef who ventures to Cornwall in search of the most elusive delicacy imaginable- a mermaid. His culinary pursuit quickly twists into horror as myth, greed, and nature’s vengeance close in.
Southwell, known for her acclaimed work on Call the Midwife and indie dramas such as Echo and Deirdre, described The Catch as her “most ambitious and haunting project yet.” Speaking about the production, she said, “I am delighted to be working with Jonathan, Ben, and Omid, together, their on-screen presence will bring depth, nuance, and emotive storytelling to this darkly original story.”
The Catch is produced by Mermaid Pictures and Sara Gibbings, with cinematography expected to highlight the natural beauty, and danger, of Cornwall’s wild coastline. The movie taps into a rich vein of British horror that uses local myth as metaphor: this time, the mermaid isn’t just a creature of legend, but a mirror for human obsession and moral decay.
The concept of a chef chasing an impossible taste feels both poetic and disturbing, a parable of consumption and control. As the waves rise and the hunt intensifies, audiences can expect a film that blurs the line between desire and damnation.
Filming is scheduled to begin soon, with The Catch aiming for a late 2025 or early 2026 release. Given its mix of star power, folklore roots, and psychological depth, it’s already shaping up to be one of next year’s most anticipated UK horror releases.
