Damsel

Watch this marvelous cinematic masterpiece. Damsel is gorgeous. Steeped in a mist-strewn fantastic set-up, something is deeply off and awry. Forbiddingly we are pulled in, like moths towards an ancient and mysterious flame. As the layers flicker away against gilded majesty and pomp and circumstance, we see a turbulent story of the end, an end unending but drenched deeply in blood and fire. Can the cold, hardened north survive this bloody and enchanting tale through the deep catacombs of opulence? The lighting and soundscapes are more than appropriate. Like a fairytale we never knew but always wanted, the atmosphere is vivid and deep, like a dream away from time and long ago. The film drips with æthereal cinematism. Every breath, moment and damp drip throughout this film is masterfully executed. The performances - especially of Princess Elodie whom we follow tightly throughout - are elegant and captivating. Nothing is overdone nor undercooked, everything is perfectly befitting to the characters, their struggles, their background. The acting shows us everything any person with human empathy need know. We are given exactly what we need throughout the story with enough to keep us guessing until the drama deepens. The story burrows deeply, twists and turns, and glows anew with what is a refreshing and satisfying heroine plot, borne of struggles for person and kingdom alike. The choreography comes close to perfection, with only a few faltered footsteps in direction. It's a difficult task with most films failing fully in this regard. The choreography is on the actors' parts however acted out flawlessly nonetheless. This film burns with a deep fire, blazing a path against societal ills with parallels to our own society, past and present, which are deep. For those who dislike dark stories, macabre, kingdoms, fantasy, women, heroines, fairytales and fables — this story may not be for you. However, this story is perfectly cut and far surpasses any blockbuster in years. A fan of Dragonheart or GoT? This is better. While a Damsel 2 would by necessity follow a divergent trajectory, the door is open for many quests. Damsel is an adventure well worth a watch and a follow up to explore this intriguing world.

Kind of hard to imagine anyone taking this film literally. From across unknown waters we arrive at mountains and deserts, peopled by archetypes who don't talk or behave the way we expect. What we recognize is reckless violence and the belief of every male character that they somehow have a right to the nearest female. As always, these two elements bring disaster, highlighted by the conceit that we're watching a classic western whose roles are as set-in-stone as a Punch and Judy show. The comedy is both subtle and broad, the only female unscathed by the bumbling machoism is the "maybe even unique" Butterscotch, who ultimately disappears back into the magical mist. Maybe blondes really do have more fun.