Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s action-adventure fantasy Damsel starring Millie Bobby Brown is currently streaming on Netflix, and the review ban was lifted late last night, just before the film’s release.
That’s not usually a great sign, and it’s certain that the director of 28 Weeks Later didn’t win over most critics with his surprisingly terrifying (at least for a PG-13 rating) foray into the fantasy genre.
With over 50 reviews counted, Damsel currently sits at 54% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics seem to be all over the place on this one, with some praising Brown’s performance as a highlight and others far less convinced by the Stranger Things star’s lead turn.
Similarly, the film’s dragon – voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo – has been described by some as a terrifying creation that elevates the film whenever it’s on screen, while others feel the creature is brought to life through subpar CGI.
Brown plays a princess named Elodie who believes all her dreams have come true when she becomes engaged to Prince Henry.
However, she soon realizes that the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to a dragon to pay off an ancient debt.
Elodie is abandoned in the firebeast’s cave, and when it becomes clear that no knights in shining armor will come to save her, Elodie decides to take matters into her own hands and kill the firebeast herself with the help of an indomitable spirit and a very large sword.
Damsel was directed by 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo from a script by Dan Mazeau. Brown also serves as executive producer along with Mazeau, Robert Brown, Mark Bomback and Sue Baden-Powell. The film also stars Jurassic World’s Nick Robinson, Black Panther’s Angela Bassett and Black Widow’s Ray Winstone.
