Damsel: fantasy movie

Introduction to Damsel

First of all, I'm writing this review after watching the film for the second time. Oddly enough, my first viewing was a year and a half ago. I remember being impressed by the film at first glance for several reasons, which I'll mention later. But this time, questions flooded my mind, and my brain cells were searching for answers. So I'll present the questions here along with their answers, and you can tell me whether the answers satisfied you.

Damsel is a fantasy film brimming with excitement. It tells the story of a young woman chosen to marry a prince to save her people from famine. She agrees, and the wedding celebrations begin. However, she is shocked to be thrown into a deep pit, where she encounters a giant, mythical dragon. Thus begins her terrifying journey to escape her fate, and along the way, secrets are revealed that hold the key to understanding everything that has happened.

The film stars Millie Bobby Brown, Robin Wright, Ray Winstone, Angela Bassett, and several other actors, and is directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

Despite the excellent acting and other strong elements in the film, such as lighting, set design, and costumes, there are some questions we will raise, and we will attempt to find logical and convincing answers to them.

Questions and Answers

1. How did Lord Bayford learn of his daughter's fate, and did he know her true destiny from the beginning after her marriage to Prince Henry?

Lord Bayford's belated guilt toward his daughter kept him from traveling and drove him to seek her rescue. However, he didn't know her exact location, so he enlisted people to guide him to her.

Furthermore, it's illogical to assume he learned his daughter's true fate from Queen Isabelle, even if she had bribed him with gold. He could have simply refused, since it was ultimately his daughter's life at stake, even if the price was the survival of his people.

Even assuming she told him the full truth about his daughter, Elodie, and he chose to accept it, which would explain his somber demeanor after his conversation with Queen Isabelle, he still had the right to reconsider or defend his daughter at any time.

2. How did Queen Isabelle know that Lord Bayford, his wife, and his other daughter hadn't traveled?

That didn't make sense to me. She had rushed to them on the ship to bring Elodie's sister as a replacement for the dragon, and then her guards had inflicted a very minor wound on Lord Bayford's wife.

3. Is Elodie immune to death, no matter what situations she faces, even those that seem almost impossible to escape from?

The first fall into the chasm didn't harm Elodie's body; it only knocked her unconscious.

The dragon that flooded the valley with fire, but Elodie didn't even suffocate from the smoke; she simply lost consciousness in the smoke. Is that logical?

4. Why didn't Elodie let the dragon die, even though he had killed her father? How could she be convinced he was a victim like her?

Surely Elodie had another revenge plan to punish Queen Isabel and Prince Henry, who had sacrificed all those innocent girls to protect their people.

She imagined what had actually happened to the dragon before, and to his young children, who were killed by one of the kings of this kingdom, but there's nothing to completely confirm this theory. The dragon might have actually attacked them, so there's nothing to convince me he was a victim.

Even killing the children made perfect sense if they were believed to be a future threat to the queen. Besides, the dragon took pleasure in hunting and killing girls; his monstrous nature dictated it.

Elodie, for her part, neutralized the monster by rescuing him and then guiding him to his true enemies, who had deceived him with girls who had no real connection to the royal family.

The Heroine's Approach

The lone heroine fighting an impossible battle was what initially captivated me. However, I expected Prince Henry to improvise and deviate from the script, attempting to rescue Elodie by defying all odds for her sake. But he didn't, as he too was sacrificing for his people.

Elodie was brilliant in her struggle, using her resilience and intelligence against the dragon. However, she shouldn't have left any room for lucky coincidences to favor her in her fight against the monster.

Furthermore, her reliving the events with the monster's offspring, based on a spiritual hallucination that tells her it's a lie, would be quite weak in a different genre. However, here it's somewhat acceptable, given that it's a fantasy film seeking exciting and inspiring moments.

The film does not carry much depth in its folds, except for Prince Henry's sacrifice through his repeated marriages to girls to save his people from annihilation by the dragon. Although it carries something of a rejection towards that matter, which sometimes breaks his heart and hurts his conscience,e on the other hand, towards the innocent.

There is also the sacrifice Elodie made to save her people from famine by agreeing to marry Prince Henry, whom she knew nothing about.

Distinctive aspects

The standout aspects of the film Damsel are few but clear. For example, the breathtaking sets, with their elaborate decorations, such as the palace courtyard, the cave, and the rooms.

Also, the costumes were meticulously designed to suit the setting and era, with the characters' appearances perfectly aligned with them.

The lighting and cinematography were excellent, and despite the darkness inside the cave, the scenes remained well-lit.

Mille Bobby Brown and Robin Wright delivered outstanding performances, portraying both the victim and the villain. I particularly admired Queen Isabella's portrayal of a ruling queen who disregards the innocent lives lost in the pursuit of her own interests.

As a fantasy story, I consider it well-crafted and cohesive. It successfully engaged the audience, delivering satisfying suspense and a slightly exaggerated yet ultimately satisfying and exciting ending that will appeal to fans of the fantasy genre.

The dragon's appearance and voice were incredibly realistic, inspiring awe upon seeing or hearing it.

Final Touch

Some logical solutions could have been offered to Elodie in the cave, instead of relying on chance or her imagination.

Also, Henry's role was too brief and marginal; it could have been extended or given more tasks, while clearly demonstrating his strong disapproval of what was happening.

The dialogue was formulaic and conventional; it needed some mystery to pique the viewer's interest and sustain suspense.

If you enjoyed my article, you can read The Truman Show: A Unique Story About Freedom.