The Mermaid (2016)
Half Fish, Half Human, 100% Assassin.
When Xuan's real estate project threatens the home of mermaids, Shan is sent to stop him. When they fall in love, he is encouraged to cancel the project. However, he must save them from bigger danger.
In The Mermaid, consciousness is carried by monsters and creatures — a plane of “coastal merfolk conflict”. The story fights on E7/E9 of the E0–E14 reality ladder, compressing environment, prejudice, capitalism, love, exploitation.
Same rung, same subject
Films fighting at the same level of reality, about the same things.
Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)E7/E9 · rare rung · environment, exploitation
Pom Poko (1994)E7/E9 · rare rung · environment, exploitation
Swapped (2026)E7/E9 · rare rung · environment, prejudice
Ponyo (2008)E7 · rare rung · environment, love
The Red Turtle (2016)E7 · rare rung · environment, love
Pokémon 4Ever (2001)E7 · rare rung · environment, exploitationSame subject, different rung
The same preoccupations examined at another scale — one mind versus a nation.
Ultraviolet (2006)E4/E11 · rare rung · exploitation, prejudice
Mutant Chronicles (2008)E8/E11/E14 · rare rung · environment, exploitation
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)E6/E11 · rare rung · environment, exploitation
Swamp Thing (1982)E6/E8 · rare rung · exploitation, love
Species III (2005)E6/E10 · rare rung · exploitation, prejudice
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)E6/E10 · rare rung · environment, exploitationAlso hides consciousness here
Other films that move a human interior onto the same kind of thing.
Frozen II (2019)consciousness in monsters · enchanted forest
The Prophecy (1995)consciousness in monsters · haunted forest
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013)consciousness in monsters · foodimal island
Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005)consciousness in monsters · pokemon realm
Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow (2007)consciousness in monsters · fairy realm
Barbie Presents: Thumbelina (2009)consciousness in monsters · fairy gardenSame subject, different mask
The same preoccupations carried by a different kind of thing — grief told through the dead, an animal, a machine.
Bee Movie (2007)consciousness in animals · environment, exploitation
Rio 2 (2014)consciousness in animals · environment, prejudice
Roger & Me (1989)consciousness carried elsewhere · environment, exploitation
Moana (2016)consciousness carried elsewhere · environment
Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990)consciousness in aliens · environment
Avatar (2009)consciousness in aliens · exploitation, prejudiceSame people
Shared director or cast.
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013)dir. Stephen Chow
CJ7 (2008)dir. Stephen Chow
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)dir. Stephen Chow
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)Kris Wu
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)Deng Chao
The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011)Wen Zhang