Damsel (2024)

Damsel (2024) French title: La Demoiselle et le Dragon (The Damsel and the Dragon) is an American film directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, released in 2024 on Netflix, recorded 35.3 million views and reached number one in 79 countries on the day it was released on the platform.

Impeccable direction. A film with an eye for detail, especially at the beginning. Unfortunately, it soon becomes totally unrealistic. As a result, the suspense disappears, because as soon as you don’t believe it for a second, it’s hard to stay hooked and interested.

In fact, falling several metres and surviving, getting stabbed and surviving… these are all disturbing elements where you can feel that the viewer is being taken for a fool. Will children be amazed? Probably, especially if they’re very young, because it’s still a great show with some grandiose moments. But my childlike soul didn’t want to be fooled.

The lead actress, Millie Bobby Brown, is also executive producer here. She is primarily a British actress, model and producer, born on 19 February 2004 in Marbella (Spain). She is best known for her role in the series Stranger Things. In 2018, at the age of 14, she became the youngest ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef). A fine actress, but not necessarily incredible. Especially not here, where certain moments are rather badly acted. I’m going to go so far as to say that she’s never been as bad as she is here. Not to mention that her character takes the time to cut her hair with a sword to perfection before going to rescue her captured sister.

As for Ray Winstone, who plays his father, he is best known for his role as Beowulf (2007) in Robert Zemeckis’ The Legend of Beowulf. He has been an active film actor since 1979.

Robin Wright is a long way from her debut in Santa Barbara and Princess Bride (1987), given that she is often cast in detestable roles, starting with Forrest Gump (1994), in which she enjoyed worldwide success.

It’s always a pleasure to see Angela Bassett, an actress who has won many awards and been nominated by the industry, at prestigious film industry ceremonies such as the Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. She was also the first African-American to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. An honorary Oscar was awarded to her in 2023 in recognition of her long film career.

In fact, the heroine is no Wonder Woman, but she grows stronger and stronger to overcome obstacles. The special effects are good. There are one or two jolts. The old-fashioned costumes are magnificent.

So, sure, it’s entertaining, it’s a bit out of the ordinary, but it’s still a load of rubbish!

For anyone who loves fantasy and can’t live without it. Nor is it a feature film for those who spend their time criticising the smallest detail for nothing. Yes, a bit like me!
No, more seriously: If you like:

• cardboard sets
• plastic carriages
• papier-mâché actors
• dialogue for audiences with negative IQs
• a story so ridiculous it’s comical
• Potential slapdash enough to merit an Oscar
• vegetables, especially early turnips…
  …then this thing, which can be called a film, is for you!
• Seriously, have these actresses sunk so low as to be able to star in such a piece of rubbish?
  Nothing is good, nothing holds up, except the creature… and even then!
  Another yardstick of cinematic mediocrity.
  The beginning is interesting, because it opens up so many possibilities, it’s intriguing, and then wham! we sink into an absolutely ridiculous ending that goes from disappointment to disappointment.

I found plenty of reviews, including this one that made me smile: ‘2024? Even in 1954 there were better plots and special effects!’
Come on… let’s just say that the effects are very average compared to what is done today. Let’s not exaggerate everything!

To think that I had seen this film in a list of the most watched films. I really wanted to see it. But by the time I got ready to watch it, a few days later, it had disappeared and I hadn’t remembered the name. I didn’t think he’d disappear like that. So I actively and desperately searched for him… but to no avail. It took several weeks for him to reappear before my astonished eyes… and I tell myself (once again) that I’ve wasted my time again.