Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Brooke Carter, Shohreh Aghdashloo
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story: Netflix fantasy action adventure directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and written by Dan Mazeau. Damsel (2024) centers on a dutiful damsel, Princess Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown), who agrees to marry handsome Prince Henry (Nick Robinson), only to discover it was all a trap. The royal family recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. After she’s thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, she must rely solely on her wits and will to survive.
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'It seems even a harsh clime can grow the fairest flowers.' - Queen Isabelle (Damsel) Share on X
Elodie: There are many stories of chivalry where the heroic knight saves the damsel in distress. This is not one of them.
Lord Bayford: [to Elodie] I have made a match. A prince.
Lord Bayford: [to Elodie] We need this. Our stores are empty. We will not make it to the thaw. Your people need you. This is who we are.
Elodie, Floria: First impressions are everything.
Lady Bayford: If you want these people to think we belong here, you can’t act so easily impressed.
Lord Bayford: What do you think, Ellie?
Elodie: I think I had a rather limited definition of wealthy.
Elodie: I just hope he’s kind. And well-read.
Floria: Handsome.
Floria: You’re Elodie. You can do anything.
Queen Isabelle: What is your greatest strength?
Elodie: I always tell the truth, Your Majesty.
Queen Isabelle: Some might call that a weakness.
Elodie: The land where I come from is exactly how your mother explained. Harsh and barren. This union will save us. I’ve made my peace with it. My happiness is a small price to pay for the future of my people.
Prince Henry: [from Elodie’s letter] “I hope you’ll get to know my heart.”
Elodie: It’s my life’s dream. For as long as I can remember, I’ve longed to explore the distant lands. The ones you only read about. Perhaps, one day, we will.
Prince Henry: Perhaps.
Queen Isabelle: [to Lady Bayford] Well, your family needs money. My family needs a bride. What we don’t need is more family.
Lady Bayford: These people, I don’t trust them. It’s hard to explain, but a mother knows these things.
Lady Bayford: They may be royalty, but that doesn’t make them good people.
Queen Isabelle: [to Elodie] Welcome, Princess. For generations, it has been our task, our duty, to protect our people. The price is dear, but so too the reward. So, tonight, you join a long line of women who have helped to build this kingdom.
Queen Isabelle: It is this sacrifice we commemorate every generation. A tradition going back centuries. Your hand, child. A legacy of honor and duty you now inherit, Princess Elodie of Aurea. Let our two lines mingle and fast become one. She is now of royal blood.
Prince Henry: [to Elodie, before he tosses into the dragon’s lair] Close your eyes. I’ve got you. I’m sorry.
Elodie: I am the sacrifice.
Dragon: [to Elodie] I want what is promised. What is owed. Every generation, your kind must pay. The scent of royalty betrays you. It’s in your blood. Now, my favorite part. Run.
Dragon: This story always ends the same.
Elodie: [to the glowing worm] I’m deeply sorry for underestimating you.
Dragon: There is no way out, Princess. Not for any of you. Three were taken. Three must be given.
Dragon: Death is not enough for you. You will know my pain.
Lord Bayford: Elodie. Can you hear me? I have made a horrible, horrible mistake. To sacrifice the one thing I love most. To trade your life for the good of my people. I thought that I could take the gold. That I could live with myself. My choice. But I can’t. I can’t.
Queen Isabelle: A prince protects his kingdom, without hesitation or complaint.
Dragon: [as Elodie points her sword at her] That won’t kill me, but it will make me angry.
Elodie: Good. I’m angry too. We have both been lied to.
Dragon: El-o-die. Accept your fate, as I have mine. We are to die alone.
Elodie: I have an army with me. Every innocent woman whose life was stolen down here.
Dragon: Your kind were never innocent.
Elodie: Then go ahead. Show me your fire. Well? What are you waiting for? Burn me. Burn me!
Elodie: They fooled you. You’ve been killing innocent daughters just like they did.
Dragon: Then end it.
Elodie: No. I’m through doing what I’m told.
Queen Isabelle: [to Elodie] You know nothing of what we’ve endured. You know nothing of our story.
Queen Isabelle: You insolent creature. You think we ought to fear you now? Why? Because you somehow managed to escape the dragon?
Elodie: It’s not me you should fear. This is the end of your story.
[the dragon shows up and burns them all]
Elodie: You’re the only person I trust to look after our people, Mother.
Floria: Can I help too?
Elodie: Floria. I’m counting on it.