Damsel Review
Damsel attempts to infuse a feminist twist into the traditional damsel-in-distress narrative, but ultimately falls short of delivering a compelling and engaging story.
Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, the film stars Millie Bobby Brown as Elodie, a young woman who finds herself in an arranged marriage and must rely on her own resourcefulness to survive a perilous situation.
From the outset, "Damsel" struggles to find its footing, failing to resonate with any particular audience demographic. The narrative unfolds in a disjointed manner, with plot points feeling haphazardly thrown together rather than flowing naturally. This lack of cohesion makes "Damsel" a challenging and often frustrating watch.
While the film aims to subvert traditional gender roles and offer a feminist perspective, its execution leaves much to be desired. The attempts to empower Elodie and portray her as a strong, independent woman feel forced and superficial, lacking the depth and nuance needed to truly resonate with audiences.
Millie Bobby Brown delivers an unmemorable performance as Elodie, but it seems Netflix is fixated on her as their crowning jewel following her success in Stranger Things – from one princess to another “Let it Go!”. The supporting cast, including Nick Robinson, Robin Wright, and Angela Bassett, fail to leave a lasting impression, with their characters feeling underdeveloped and one-dimensional.
Visually, Damsel offers some striking moments, particularly in its depiction of the dragon but is also heavily reliant on CGI to create the this fairy tale world. However, these moments of visual flair are not enough to compensate for the film's lackluster storytelling and pacing issues.
One of the film's biggest flaws is its attempt to shoehorn in feminist themes without fully committing to exploring them in a meaningful way. The narrative feels contrived and insincere, with the feminist elements coming across as an afterthought rather than integral to the story.
