“It’s a classic fantasy tale but with a modern twist”: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo on Damsel

New Netflix movie Damsel has all the trappings of a classic fairytale adventure: princes and princesses, fire-breathing dragons and wicked queens. However, just as its title aims to mislead, this film subverts the very genre it inhabits, and delivers anything but a damsel in distress in the form of Millie Bobby Brown as Elodie. Coming off the world-dominating fame of Stranger Things, Brown will no doubt have had her pick of roles. With Enola Holmes already under her belt, this tale might at first seem an unlikely choice, but from the moment the corseted princess she plays is ruthlessly tossed into a crevasse as a sacrificial offering to a dragon to settle an ancient debt, it all starts to make sense.

Far from the archetypal princess narrative, looking to be saved by a hero in the form of a loving prince, Elodie goes on a brutal and gruelling journey to save herself, and Brown fearlessly transforms from prim and proper to The Descent levels of badass. Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, known for Intacto and 28 Weeks Later, the follow-up to Danny Boyle’s original, goes all out on the visuals to create an immersive fantastical world that nonetheless feels grounded. It’s a refreshingly dark and twisty tale that breathes life into old tropes, further buoyed by veteran faces such as Robin Wright as the formidable queen, Ray Winstone as Elodie’s father and Angela Bassett as her mother-in-law. In this bold, feminist spin on a traditional fairytale, loss of innocence, coming-of-age and a young woman’s journey to break free of societal expectations and have agency are all explored with creativity, no doubt inspiring a new generation to take their destiny into their own hands.

The Upcoming heard from Fresnadillo about the making of the movie and his desire to create a modern, feminist twist on classic fairy tales that would break with stereotypes. He spoke about casting Millie Bobby Brown at Elodie, and the commitment and physicality she brought to her role, alongside a stellar supporting cast including Wright and Bassett. Fresnadillo further shared the challenges of creating a realistic fantasy world and the importance of infusing it with contemporary values. He also hinted at his future projects: with The Sword in the Stone currently on ice, he’d like to explore a romantic thriller next.

Sarah Bradbury

Damsel is released on Netflix on 8^th March 2024.

Watch the trailer for Damsel here: