Damsel movie flips the classic fairy tale on its head with a dark, subversive twist that delivers more grit than grace. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and starring Millie Bobby Brown, the film offers a survival-driven fantasy that challenges old tropes but occasionally stumbles in pacing and depth.

The story follows Princess Elodie (Brown), who agrees to marry a charming prince in a neighboring kingdom to save her impoverished homeland. But the fairy tale ends at the altar — and the nightmare begins. Elodie is betrayed by the royal family and thrown into a cave as a sacrifice to an ancient dragon, part of a long tradition meant to protect the realm. What follows is a brutal, high-stakes fight for survival as Elodie uses her wits, courage, and sheer willpower to defy fate.

Damsel Movie Performance

Millie Bobby Brown is the film’s undeniable anchor. She delivers a fierce and physical performance, carrying nearly the entire film on her shoulders. Her portrayal of Elodie is refreshingly grounded — she’s not a warrior princess with magical powers, but an intelligent, determined young woman thrown into an impossible situation. Brown brings vulnerability and resolve in equal measure, making Elodie’s evolution from victim to victor both believable and satisfying.

Visually, Damsel is stunning. The cavernous dragon’s lair — jagged, haunting, and otherworldly — becomes a character in itself. The dragon, realized through a mix of practical and CGI effects, is terrifying and majestic, voiced with sinister elegance by Shohreh Aghdashloo. The film’s production design embraces its dark fantasy tone, with shadowy forests, fire-lit rituals, and ominous architecture that create an oppressive, gothic atmosphere.

Damsel Critics

Narratively, however, Damsel doesn’t always reach the heights it aims for. The premise is strong, and the opening act sets up the bait-and-switch twist well. But once Elodie is in the cave, the plot becomes narrowly focused on her survival, which, while tense, limits the emotional and thematic complexity the film initially promises. We get brief flashes of Elodie’s past and the world outside the cave, but these moments feel underdeveloped.

The pacing also falters in the middle third, where repetitive sequences of evasion and hiding slow the momentum. While the film is clearly committed to its minimalist approach — part fantasy, part survival thriller — a bit more world-building or character interaction might have made Elodie’s struggle even more resonant.

Still, Damsel deserves credit for subverting the damsel-in-distress trope without turning into a preachy empowerment tale. It doesn’t hand Elodie superpowers or magical weapons; it makes her earn every victory with grit and ingenuity. That’s a bold choice in a genre where spectacle often overshadows story.

In the end, Damsel is a raw, visually arresting fantasy with a commanding lead performance from Brown. It may not fully escape the shadows of its genre, but it casts a strong light on the strength of self-reliance — and the dangers of trusting fairy tales.

Where to Watch?

You can watch the Damsel movie on Netflix

Rating: 3.5/5