Damsel (2024)

"Plodding fantasy film falls short of its magical aims."

"An uneven film sustained by an assured lead performance."

"Good, surprise-free fantasy fun."

"It’s hard to imagine what anyone could get out of Damsel that isn’t already liberally covered by Brown’s other projects."

"The humour here — unintentional, of course — comes from the clash between Brown’s ferocious commitment and the absolute unworthiness of what she’s committing to."

"This lousy romp was obviously hatched by an algorithm, and might just as well have been directed by AI."

"There’s a credibility gap the size of Mount Dragon."

"Evidence that studios still don’t realise that a “strong female lead” is not enough to make a movie good."

"The settings are filled with enticing details that bolster some of the weakness of the screenplay."

"Adheres to codes that can feel a bit calculated, less organic than crafted in response to a newly progressive corporate agenda."

"Brown brings conviction to her stand-offs with an impressively realised creature, helping to lift their battle royale above the story’s bullet-point plotting."

"Of course women can slay dragons, but can we get another pass on the script before they head out to do battle?"

"Among the worst big-budget projects on the streamer’s crowded roster. And this is saying something."

"Sweaty, snarly, slithery fun."

"Rushes through poignant moments, while neglecting deeper themes from the novel."

"It’s not the damsel but the audience that will suffer distress from the nonstop, numbing repetition."

"(Brown) isn’t always convincing as a princess fighting for her life, but there’s some fun to be had from this rousing subversion of storybook tropes."

"There’s little to no investment in world-building, which should be a priority in fantasy filmmaking."

"A compelling twist on the classic fantasy narrative, featuring strong performances, surprising plot twists, and impressive visuals."

"Too childish and shallow for adults, yet too brutal and gory for kids."