The \u201cdamsel in distress\u201d is a universal fairy tale clich\u00e9. But what if the damsel decides she\u2019s had enough of being scared, choosing to fight for her life instead? That\u2019s the premise of this Netflix action movie starring Stranger Things<\/a>\u2019 Millie Bobby Brown, who also co-produces, with direction supplied by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later).<\/p>\n Brown plays the sweet and kind Elodie, who thinks she\u2019s moving to a rich and powerful kingdom to live happily ever after. In a union arranged by her father Lord Bayford (Ray Winstone) and stepmother Lady Bayford (Angela Bassett, underused), she will marry the handsome Prince Henry (Nick Robinson). In return, her own land, which is starving, will receive money and food. A great bargain, yes?<\/p>\n Well, no, because the prince\u2019s mother is up to no good. Played by Robin Wright \u2013 the iciness she nurtured so well in House Of Cards is on full display \u2013 Queen Isabelle actually intends to sacrifice Elodie to a dragon who lives in a nearby mountain. Thanks to a centuries-old pact, this will appease its anger and keep the kingdom safe.<\/p>\n Thus, the unsuspecting Elodie, freshly wed and totally oblivious to her fate, is suddenly tossed into a chasm for the scaly beast. A cat-and-mouse hunt through an underground cave system begins, with a fiery death almost a certainty.<\/p> The script, penned by Wrath Of The Titans\u2019 Dan Mazeau, doesn\u2019t always hang together. Some moments are inspired: a flock of burning birds, for example, lit on fire by the dragon and sent fluttering towards Elodie as a portent of its arrival. Or a ceiling of icicles rapidly melting as the fiery monster approaches. The way the film\u2019s colourful, fairy-tale opening act slowly descends into horror is compelling.<\/p>\n Yet there are missteps, too. Characters with cut-glass posh British accents say things such as, \u201cI really love it, like, a lot!\u201d Much of the film\u2019s CGI resembles a videogame. The biggest issue, however, is that it\u2019s never hard to figure out what\u2019s going to happen next. The film seems to be aimed at younger audiences who might not be so familiar with its worn tropes, but at the same time, the violence and gore isn\u2019t really for them. On the flip side, there\u2019s not enough<\/em> violence and gore to entice older audiences. Tonally, it\u2019s as confused as Elodie\u2019s fledgling marriage.<\/p>\n Thankfully, rescue is at hand from Brown, who is, as always, completely watchable. Having more than cemented her leading lady status in the Enola Holmes<\/a> films, it\u2019s refreshing to see her unleashing her inner Ellen Ripley to fight her own alien.<\/p>\n As she climbs, falls and crawls away from her tormentor, her guttural screams sell the pain of her injuries \u2013 and her fury \u2013 as well as any male action-hero from the \u201980s. You know you\u2019re in for a treat when her scowl finally appears: so perfectly forged on Stranger Things\u2019 unlucky Eleven, it\u2019s deployed to fine effect here. Dragons beware!<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Which brings us to the reptilian creature herself; yes, she\u2019s female, which helps to offset some similarities to The Hobbit\u2019s iconic Smaug. Voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo, who famously possesses a deep, caramel timbre, the dragon stalks Elodie through her lair while breathing taunts and promises of death. It\u2019s a fantastic pairing of voice and visuals \u2013 the dragon is beautifully designed \u2013 and adds a creepy, serial-killer vibe to proceedings.<\/p>\n Together, Brown and Aghdashloo\u2019s performances elevate the film beyond its bare bones. You may see the finale flapping into view long before it happens, but these two determined ladies ensure you\u2019ve had a gripping ride.<\/p>\n![\"Millie](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2022\/04\/Millie-Bobby-Brown-in-Damsel-574012b-e1709735160992.jpeg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Millie")
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