Film Review III: Damsel

This film was a true testament to the feminist film theory. I appreciated this film’s take on the well-known “Damsel in Distress” story, but as a film I did not think it was that great. Although, I felt that the overall plot of this movie fell flat, there were some key aspects of this film that I deeply appreciated like its ability to create suspense, its use of technology to create stunning visual effects, as well as acting. Feel free to read my film analysis to learn more in depth about my thoughts on this film. 

Damsel Film Analysis 

In the kingdom of Aurea, Princess Elodie finds herself battling an ancient dragon because her corrupt new family in-laws require her sacrifice to fulfill their treacherous family’s curse. Some strengths that I thought contributed to the film’s success was the acting and cinematography. I appreciated the eeriness and the suspense that was present during the earlier parts of the inciting incident. I felt like the actress that played Elodie, Millie Bobby Brown, is exceptional at making her believe her pain, and I genuinely felt her terror. I also enjoyed the way the camera would pan to the dragon; it definitely kept me on edge for the majority of the movie.    However, Millie’s exceptional acting could not make up for the fact that I did not enjoy the storyline. I felt like the entire plot of the movie was weak and did not evoke feelings of empathy within me, the viewer. When I am watching a film, I love to feel like the conflict is unavoidable and inevitable. However, this story, I felt like it was far-fetched that the dragon had no clue that she was killing other kingdom’s daughters because of one cut on their hand. I think the writers could have done a better job at creating a more thoughtful storyline.

            One film theory that I thought this film tried to exemplify was the feminist theory. The name of the film itself challenges the typical ideal of a Damsel. Instead of being a damsel in distress in need of a man to help her, the damsel helps herself out of a dangerous situation. This film challenged the idea that women are helpless individuals who are always in need of men to save them from their misery. Being that Elodie was the one to save herself from the danger she found herself in, debunks society’s sexist ideologies. I think that the director achieved his goal of making a film that highlights the feminist ideology; however, I think that the film fell short in the story telling aspect. As we have talked about in class, I do think that a lot of directors rely heavily on effects and CGI to captivate the audience. Though I did find the dragon terrifying, it was simply not enough to overlook the flaws throughout the entire story. The plot of the film to me did not make enough sense to sustain an entire film. The actors in this film were phenomenal, Angela Basset, Nick Robinson, Millie Bobby Brown, but good acting could not save the film from its lackluster story.