Twisting the classic damsel-in-distress trope into a dark survival story, the new release “Damsel” tells the story of Princess Elodie, played by “Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown, who is betrothed to a prince in the wealthy kingdom of Aurea. Elodie soon realizes that instead of becoming the prince’s wife, she’s becoming a dragon’s next meal. She must endure nearly insurmountable hardships to escape the fire-breathing creature and take her revenge on the royalty who sent her off to die.
Unlike most feminist movies, the villain is not a man, and unlike most fairytales, the villain is not the a dragon. Instead, the film is an allegory for systematic oppression of the poor. Elodie, coming from a barren and impoverished kingdom, accepts Prince Henry’s hand in marriage to save her nation financially. Unbeknownst to the princess, the dragon kills three royal daughters every generation since the King of Aurea slayed the dragons’ three daughters a century ago. Instead of sacrificing one of their own daughters, the Aurean royalty exploit desperate kingdoms such as Elodie’s. The movie parallels everyday issues of how major corporations take advantage of the helpless without shoving anti-capitalist or anti-rich sentiment down the viewer’s throat.
In addition to the captivating storyline, the movie’s visuals make the film worth watching. The kingdom Elodie hails from is a cold, greyscale and hardly inhabitable land, meanwhile Aurea has lush green hills, crystal clear water and an ornate gilded palace. This blatant contrast seamlessly depicts the awe and hope for fortune that the situation brought Elodie’s family. Furthermore, the aura of the film drastically changes when Elodie realizes she is no more than dragon bait. She stands alone in the dark, thorny pits of a mountain with her only light source coming from birds scorched with flames. Whenever Elodie has an idea that helps her escape, her environment tends to be mystical and breathtaking. Elodie discovers cyan glow worms, which have healing properties, in a whimsical part of the cave with glowing icicles and stalactites. While finding a potential way out, Elodie is met with a tunnel of sparkling crystals. When Elodie finally escapes, the dragon releases fire into the sky and turns the lavish lands of Aurea into a dark red dystopia, enhancing the imagery of the dragon’s fury.
While “Damsel” features violent scenes, such as soldiers burning to death in the opening scene and close-ups of burns, its level of gore is perfectly suitable for viewers who fall into the PG-13 age range. The director kept blood and violence only to the scenes that required them to keep the storyline grave.
Socially aware, modernly fantastical and enchantingly dark, “Damsel” is a fun watch with critical undertones and stunning visuals.
