One of Netflix’s newest additions to their roster, Damsel is an attempt at a revolutionary fable that we all know of. It tries to make a bold statement by branching away from the idea that Damsels need saving by their heroic Knights. In the flick, Elodie, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is impulsively married off to an affluent and charming prince, by the name of Henry. He takes her to essentially sacrifice her life to evil satanists and a dragon overlord so as to break away from the shackles of a curse that have its roots aeons ago. Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and writer Dan Mazeau try their best to reinterpret gender definitions and deliver a strong message about stereotypes.
However, the movie falls absolutely short in many regards, and is on course to be one of Netflix’s poorest high budget ventures. With a current Rotten Tomatoes rating of 56%, the film lacks the zeal needed to carry forward the message the cast is trying to convey, and hence does not have a convincing storyline. Brown, who is known to be a versatile actress, also does not reach her zenith in her portrayal of Elodie.
Despite the poor CGI and banality, Damsel is victim to seasoned artists putting on a mediocre display. The Dragon, played by Shohreh Aghdashloo does leaps and bounds better than the rest of the cast in terms of unfolding the story. Angela Bassett, an Oscar nominee herself, fails to reach the expectations of the viewers. This movie makes it clear that a strong feminine lead is not enough for a movie to do well, especially without the support of the ensemble, an intentional storyline and a genuine interest in the development of the female lead.
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