Netflix released their new original movie, “Damsel”, on their streaming platform on March 8, 2024. But before the release, I was drawn to the clips and trailers released for the movie. I was tired of remakes and sequels; I wanted something original. I wanted a new story to be told and Damsel looked like it was that movie. I eagerly awaited its release to Netflix and couldn’t wait to sit down. I bought a fruit tray and made sure my mom waited to watch it with me.

My initial impression of the movie, I enjoyed it!

The simplicity was its main appeal to me. That might seem like a weird statement at first. Is a simple firm not boring? Perhaps. However, I find that so many movies try to mimic the Marvel complicated cinematic universe and how everything ties into another item. I feel like I must do so much preparation just to watch a movie! The idea that this is a fairytale retelling with a twist seemed like a breath of fresh air.

Fantasy, romance, and horror: all these genres of movies interest me. The movie has a splash of each, but I was not expecting how gruesome it would be. I was a little surprised by how intense and cruel the movie was at some points. But director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is not new to the horror thriller scene. He directed movies like “28 Weeks Later” and its sequel “28 Days Later”. I think Fresnadillo’s experience with intense suspenseful moments helped lead the movie towards that direction.

Fresnadillo wanted the main character, played by Millie Bobby Brown, Elodie’s emotional journey to be the focus of the movie. He told Digital Trends that “you cheat when there’s a lot of action and effects involved” when talking about how he challenged Brown. He intentionally gave her character a lot of close-up shots to express the character’s internal conflicts. He did not want to add her character to a long list of strong characters that get lost in the fantasy world created. While there is a loss of world-building in this movie, I love the character driven movie.

When going into Damsel, he wanted to make something new. His intention in every movie he directs is to make something inspirational. He doesn’t always think the first idea is the best idea.

When Digital Trends asked Frenadillo if he was willing to work on a sequal, he was very interested in the idea. “Oh, absolutely,” he tells Digital Trends “I’ve been involved in this movie for five years, and I put a piece of my heart, my soul, into this project, so I would be more than happy to helm a sequel”.

The ending of the movie was open-ended, leaving room for anything to happen. They could explore new lands and expand upon the lore of the world. I would be interested to see where they take Elodie’s story.