Damsel Movie Review (2024)
A fantasy adventure about a young woman forced to fend for herself, Damsel is visually striking, though it never quite rises above a fairly standard premise.
When this movie first came out on Netflix, I remember being told to skip it. Netflix has a habit of cycle-producing movies, some of which are great, but many of which aren’t. And while I was told that this wasn’t great, it showed up as a suggestion on the platform to me yesterday, and I hit play. I wasn’t going to let a little reputation detour me.
Damsel is about Elodie, the daughter of Lord Bayford. The people of their land live in stark, wintry conditions, and they are running out of good food and firewood. Trying to save them, Lord Bayford makes a match between Elodie and Prince Henry of Aurea, and he, her step-mother, and her sister travel by boat to deliver Elodie and attend her wedding. After the nuptials, though, things do not go as the new bride expects.
This is a dark fairy tale from beginning to end. In the moments that you meet Elodie (played by an engaging Millie Bobby Brown) and her sister in the bitter cold, and then watch them arrive in Aurea, where everything is beautiful, there is a marriage, and a prince who appears interested in the same things she is (travel, horses, etc.), you generally know where this is going, and you are up for the journey.
Visually, Damsel is striking. The colors are lush and vibrant, with rich colors that reminded me of paint. I actually had the urge to touch the screen – or I wanted her to touch everything because it was so gorgeous.
That said, there are some CGI moments that are extremely iffy. While the flowers, clothing, backgrounds, and greenery are right out of an art museum, the beings of fantasy and some of the world around them furrow your brow. The designers could have done better, and they should have. Is it worth making if you can’t do the entire film justice?
And one bone to pick – why are people always slicing their hands to become “blood brothers?” Do they know how long it takes for the palm of your hand to heal? Can they not choose a different spot, like the back of the hand? The side of the arm? I swear…
Damsel takes on a narrative that many of us have wanted for decades – that the “princess” doesn’t need a man to save the day. She can be her own savior. And Damsel takes their position and runs with it, but, over time, it begins to wear thin.
It also remains at a surface level, so you like Elodie, but you don’t share the difficulties of her journey, or anyone else’s. However, that is the case with many fairy tales. This one is fine, not particularly memorable, but does have a step-mother who plays a slightly different role, and that is a treat.
Runtime: 109 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes, if you like fantasy adventure
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Available: Free on Netflix
