Warning! Potential spoilers for Damsel.
Summary
- Damsel is the latest addition to the fairytale retelling genre, focusing on an empowered princess facing a dragon and dark motives.
- Films like The Princess Bride, Ever After, and Ella Enchanted twist classic fairy tales with added complexity and humor for diverse audiences.
- Damsel and Pan's Labyrinth share darker tones and themes, showcasing protagonists facing unique challenges with determination and courage.
Netflix's new film Damsel is the latest addition to the fairytale retelling genre, with similar movies coming before it. The story follows Princess Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) as she prepares to be married to Prince Henry (Nick Robinson) in classic fairytale fashion. However, when she is instead thrown into a cave with a dragon, she must use everything at her disposal to save herself as Queen Isabelle's (Robin Wright) true motives are revealed.
Many films in this genre focus on premises like this and can be found throughout the past few decades. These films take inspiration from classic stories by the Brothers Grimm and Aesop's Fables and reimagine them with the idea that the princess is not a damsel in distress. These films can also dig into the darker tones of the original stories or add some comedy as they poke fun at the tropes. Either way, this genre has something for every audience member.
10 The Princess Bride (1987)
Starring Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, and Mandy Patinkin
One could say The Princess Bride's notoriety among audiences is inconceivable. The tale of Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and her dashing Westley (Cary Elwes) taking on bandits, kings, and other fairy tale problems makes fun of many classic tropes through quick dialogue and constant interruptions from the film's framing device. This parody is emphasized in several moments throughout the film: Inigo Montoya's (Mandy Patinkin) battle with the six-fingered man, Westley's battle of wits with Vizzini, and the big kiss at the end.
The Princess Bride does take a more lighthearted tone than Damsel, but it still has moments of suspense, such as Westley's "death" and the final confrontation with Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). While there is no dragon in The Princess Bride, the film's many creatures, including the Rodents of Unusual Size, give the characters plenty to face as the adventure unfolds. As an added bonus, both movies star Wright, who plays Damsel's Queen Isabelle.
9 Ever After (1998)
Starring Drew Barrymore, Dougray Scott, and Anjelica Huston
The story of Cinderella has been told many times, but Ever After takes it in a new direction. Stripped of magic and fairy godmothers, the film feels more like a period piece while still having the beats of the original story. The characters are given more complexity, especially the prince, as the film explores his relationship with his father and future as king. It also gives the stepmother more depth, especially regarding Danielle (Drew Barrymore).
Danielle, similar to Elodie, is a fierce fighter who is handy with a sword, as seen in the film's climax. She also must use her wits to outmaneuver those who wish to see her fail. Her plan to pretend to be a noblewoman to aid her friend gets out of hand as she falls for the prince, but ultimately her cunning is rewarded. Danielle's story dives further into darker fairytale themes such as grief, belonging, and courage. Her struggles are solved by both her determination and the help of her loved ones, giving the film a heartwarming and realistic feel.
8 Ella Enchanted (2004)
Starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, and Cary Elwes
Ella Enchanted plays with the trope of the magical gift within another Cinderella telling. Ella's gift of obedience is shown to be more of a hindrance, as it forces her to do everyone's bidding against her will. This is especially gut-wrenching in the climax of the movie when it is used against her by the prince's evil uncle. However, Ella breaks through the magic, lifting the curse and saving the prince herself, subverting one of the largest tropes in fairytales.
Ella and Elodie's drive to survive is very similar, as is the fact that both save themselves from the danger others force them into. However, Ella Enchanted is more comedic in tone, giving the serious moments all the more impact. The musical nature of the film adds to the fairytale feel, giving the story more opportunities to simultaneously satirize the genre and give characters a chance to showcase their personalities concisely. The film's happily ever after feels properly earned, as do the laughs the audience has along the way.
7 The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Starring Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, and Lena Headey
The Brothers Grimm not only takes a darker turn when it comes to fairytales but puts the authors themselves at the center of the conflict. The titular brothers are con artists who, despite not having any actual expertise in stopping the supernatural, must save a town plagued by an evil queen's spell. All the while, the French military hounds both them and the townsfolk, blending reality with storybook logic.
Similar to Ever After, the historical aspects of the story and time period play a large role. Additionally, the fairytale figures are shown in their original, haunting forms. The evil queen is a prime example, as her seduction and murder of Wilhelm Grimm (Matt Damon) only highlights how these stories were originally cautionary tales. The film shares a more mature tone with Damsel and also has quick turns in the narrative, keeping audiences guessing where the story will go next.
6 Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Starring Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, and Doug Jones
Guillermo del Toro's take on the fairytale genre is both horrifying and beautiful. Ofelia's (Ivana Baquero) trials through a fairytale world clash with reality as Spain heads into the early Francoist period. As Ofelia follows the directions of the mysterious faun who gave her this quest, the question of what is real and what is not becomes blurred, showcasing how these stories can mirror reality. The film also demonstrates how the monsters of childhood can evolve into more human-shaped ones in the form of Captain Vidal (Sergi López).
The more muted aesthetic of the film matches that of Damsel as Elodie tries to get out of the cave, though even the brighter moments of Pan's Labyrinth carry a subdued undertone. The two protagonists are both innocent and caring, though Ofelia is hindered by her family rather than helped. Damsel's dragon gives the film its stakes, but Pan's Labyrinth's many monsters, including the infamous Pale Man (Doug Jones), hold much more than terror as they reflect the dark reality Ofelia cannot escape from as easily.
5 Stardust (2007)
Starring Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, and Michelle Pfeiffer
Stardust has not only the staples of a fairytale but of the larger fantasy genre. Tristan's (Charlie Cox) endeavor to retrieve a fallen star ends with the star turning into a beautiful woman named Yvaine (Claire Danes). This puts him on a quest to protect her, leading him to a land filled with witches, pirates, unicorns, and many other classical creatures. The film is an episodic adventure as Tristan gets tangled in the stories of others who wish to do his newfound love harm, including a band of feuding princes and three witches who long for immortality.
Similar to Damsel, Stardust plays with expectation and then surprises the audience. The biggest example is Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro). He first appears to be a conventional evil pirate before showing his true self, saving Tristan and Yvaine, giving them new clothes, and teaching them to fence and dance, respectively. This shift makes the film a great example of the genre while still holding onto the expected fantasy aesthetic.
4 Snow White & The Huntsman (2012)
Starring Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, and Chris Hemsworth
Snow White & the Huntsman, similar to Pan's Labyrinth, takes a more serious tone and darker look as it retells the story of Snow White. The evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) is now a sorceress who consumes beauty to keep herself young. Like in the fairytale, she is told by a magic mirror that Snow White (Kristen Stewart) is fairer than her and that consuming her will make Ravenna's beauty permanent. Unlike the original tale, the huntsman she hires, Eric (Chris Hemsworth), helps Snow White greatly, guiding her to safety and aiding in her attack against Ravenna.
Snow White and Elodie hold the same will to survive, and both are competent with a sword. The films share a more sinister atmosphere, as the landscapes and color palates are mostly dampened. They both have powerful antagonists in the Queens, whose motives and resources make them formidable foes. Lastly, magic is limited in both worlds, giving the protagonists opportunities for creative problem-solving as they battle their respective monsters.
3 Into the Woods (2014)
Starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Chris Pine
Based on the musical of the same name, Into the Woods is a medley of tales. It combines the stories of Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cinderella into one world. The through line of a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) attempting to brew a potion to have a child connects each story, influencing their outcomes.
Both Into the Woods and have a large cast of characters with shifting motives. Beyond that, however, Into the Woods explores what happens after Happily Ever After. This not only disrupts the fairytale format but also, like Damsel, gives the characters a chance to develop beyond their tropes. Though that does turn their stories upside-down, in the end, they become fuller characters for it. Both films touch on the realistic idea that everything does not easily snap into place once a dream is achieved.
2 Maleficent (2014)
Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, and Sharlto Copley
An angle films in this genre sometimes explore is the villain's perspective, showcasing how they became the antagonists of the tale. Maleficent is no different, telling the story of Aurora (Elle Fanning) from the point of view of the titular character who, as it turns out, cursed Aurora due to her father's betrayal years ago. Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) shifts from villain to hero throughout the film as she inadvertently becomes Aurora's fairy godmother and endeavors to break the curse she placed on her.
Though Damsel gives audiences a more conventional protagonist, both Elodie and Maleficent are forced to confront betrayal at the hands of the men they loved. This exploration of that loss of autonomy and heartbreak makes the line between hero and villain all the more blurry, as these events could happen to anyone. It also allows both films to demonstrate how, through perseverance and care, characters can overcome betrayal and change for the better.
1 The Princess (2022)
Starring Joey King, Dominic Cooper, and Olga Kurylenko
The Princess shares the most similarities with Damsel, as The Princess (Joey King) is trained in combat from a young age but is still forced to marry a brutish prince. After leaving him at the altar, he storms the castle, kidnapping her family in the process and locking her in a tower. Using her skills, The Princess must battle through the castle to free her family and take the prince down once and for all.
Both films have a sword-wielding protagonist, but The Princess adds more action sequences and direct fairytale comparisons, such as the tower scene. It also plays into some action film tropes, such as using the evil monologue to set up the villain's defeat. Lastly, The Princess allows the protagonist to have the aid of her family and friends, while Damsel's ending sees Princess Elodie slaying her dragon mostly on her own.
Damsel is currently streaming on Netflix.
Damsel
- Release Date
- March 8, 2024
- Runtime
- 110 Minutes
- Director
- Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Cast
Nick Robinson
WHERE TO WATCH
A dutiful damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to repay an ancient debt. Thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, she must rely on her wits and will to survive
- Writers
- Dan Mazeau
Your comment has not been saved