
Damsel
dir. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
54
8 sourcesSynopsis
A young woman's marriage to a charming prince turns into a fierce fight for survival when she's offered up as a sacrifice to a fire-breathing dragon.
Critics consensus
Damsel has an appealing action hero in Millie Bobby Brown, whose gutsy performance is often enough to balance the scales against the film's underpowered story and occasionally unconvincing effects.
Audience consensus
Damsel is a decently made fantasy film and Millie Bobby Brown does well in the title role, although it's easy to tell where the story's going and the CGI isn't great.
What resonated with audiences
'Damsel' delivers spectacular action sequences and stunning creature design, with the dragon earning universal praise as one of cinema's best. Millie Bobby Brown's physical performance and the empowering girl-power narrative resonate strongly, while visual effects impress throughout. However, the film suffers from derivative storytelling and unoriginal fantasy tropes. Writing quality proves divisive, with some finding it shallow and clichéd. Pacing issues plague the slow opening, though momentum improves. Overall, it's entertaining escapist fantasy elevated by technical excellence despite familiar plotting.

Directed byJuan Carlos Fresnadillo
StarringMillie Bobby Brown, Brooke Carter, Nick Robinson, Robin Wright, Milo Twomey, Ray Winstone
Written byDan Mazeau
CinematographyLarry Fong
EditingJohn Gilbert
MusicDavid Fleming
Damsel
2024 · PG-13 · 1h 47m
Fantasy, Action, Adventure
A young woman's marriage to a charming prince turns into a fierce fight for survival when she's offered up as a sacrifice to a fire-breathing dragon.
Our Verdict
54
What resonated with audiences
'Damsel' delivers spectacular action sequences and stunning creature design, with the dragon earning universal praise as one of cinema's best. Millie Bobby Brown's physical performance and the empowering girl-power narrative resonate strongly, while visual effects impress throughout. However, the film suffers from derivative storytelling and unoriginal fantasy tropes. Writing quality proves divisive, with some finding it shallow and clichéd. Pacing issues plague the slow opening, though momentum improves. Overall, it's entertaining escapist fantasy elevated by technical excellence despite familiar plotting.
Critics Consensus
Damsel has an appealing action hero in Millie Bobby Brown, whose gutsy performance is often enough to balance the scales against the film's underpowered story and occasionally unconvincing effects.
Audience Consensus
Damsel is a decently made fantasy film and Millie Bobby Brown does well in the title role, although it's easy to tell where the story's going and the CGI isn't great.
