Damsel

Damsel is a dark fantasy film that came out on March 8, 2024, exclusively on Netflix. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and written by Dan Mazeau, the movie stars Millie Bobby Brown as Elodie, a young woman who finds herself in a dangerous situation after accepting a marriage proposal.

Elodie is the daughter of Lord Bayford and agrees to marry Prince Henry to help her impoverished people. However, she soon discovers that she is being sacrificed to pay off an ancient family debt. The film features a strong supporting cast, including Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Angela Bassett, and Robin Wright.

The plot kicks off with the first king of Aurea leading an attack against a dragon but failing miserably. Fast forward to centuries later, Elodie arrives in Aurea and, despite initial disinterest, begins to bond with Henry. Tensions rise when Elodie’s stepmother grows wary of Queen Isabelle’s true intentions.

After their wedding, Elodie and Henry participate in an ancient ceremony that reveals the dark history of royal sacrifices to the dragon. After being thrown into a chasm, Elodie becomes determined to escape the dragon's lair. She cleverly uses glowing silk worms to illuminate her surroundings and discovers a map outlining her escape route.

As she navigates through the perilous caves, Elodie learns about the fate of previous victims and ultimately confronts the dragon. The film builds to a dramatic climax where Elodie must save her younger sister Floria, who has been taken by the queen as a replacement sacrifice.

In a twist, Elodie manages to convince the dragon of the truth about her lineage, turning the tables in a thrilling battle. The story concludes with Elodie exposing the royal family's treachery, leading to a fiery demise for the corrupt rulers of Aurea.

The film has garnered mixed reviews, with critics praising Millie Bobby Brown's performance while noting weaknesses in the story. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 57% approval rating based on 125 reviews, with an average score of 5.5/10. Meanwhile, Metacritic indicates a score of 46 out of 100 from 28 critics, suggesting mixed or average reviews.

Despite the mixed feedback, the film has attracted significant audience attention, amassing 35.3 million views in its first three days on Netflix and becoming the most-watched film on the platform for the first half of 2024. The engaging storyline and Brown's compelling performance make it a noteworthy entry in the dark fantasy genre.