The Marsh King's Daughter

A very enjoyable thriller which starts stronger than it finishes, The Marsh King's Daughter is about a young woman stalked by her criminal father after she starts a new life away from him after he abducted her mother many years previously. Can she sever the still-lingring attachment she feels towards him forever?

I must say, I was surprised to discover the low rating for the movie on here. As far as I'm concerned, it gripped me it's mixture of our titular protagonist adapting to city life with her new family after spending so long in the wilderness, and the tension-packed present when she discovers her supposely dead convicted papa might not be so deceased after all.

So after both the drama and suspence are both top notch, the fact the film ends with one of those oh-so-predictable violent struggles struggles out of the Hollywood playbook was a tad dispiriting, not not enough to stop me from giving it any less than 7/10.

3 out of 5 stars.

The Marsh Kings Daughter is a fair psychological thriller film that has a good story. The script and direction is dull with a plain direction and flat characters.

The acting was okay with its cast ensemble. Daisy Ridley did her best with what was given. The characters were thinly written. It does have some thrills with Daisy trying to protect her family. And searching for her father which leads to a thrilling climax in the forest. The film lacks itself from being memorable or any different. It could have been better with a stronger script and sharp direction. Overall it was an okay film.

The Marsh King's Daughter is based on the novel of the same name by Karen Dionne. It tells the story of Helena Pelletier(Daisy Ridley). Helena goes after the man who kidnapped her mother, to safeguard her family's future.

The Marsh King's Daughter is a pretty good film. However, it would have been fantastic if it had just been fast-paced, like how a thriller should be. Usually, slow-burn movies build up to an electrifying climax. However, that's not the case with this film. Even during its final act, it still doesn't pick up the pace. The cinematography by Alwin H. Kukler is gorgeous. The performances are the movie's strongpoint. Daisy Ridley is spectacular as Helena Pelletier. Ben Mendelsohn is outstanding as Jacob Holbrook. Brooklynn Prince is fantastic as Young Helena. Gil Birmingham is great as Clark. Caren Pistorius is brilliant as Helena's mother. Garrett Hedlund is excellent as Stephen Pelletier. Joey Carson is adorable as Marigold Pelletier. The Marsh King's Daughter is not a must watch in theatres. However, watch it on streaming if you have time to kill.

"The Marsh King's Daughter" is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Based on the novel by Karen Dionne, the movie tells the story of Helena, a woman who must confront her traumatic past when her father, a dangerous fugitive, escapes from prison. The film expertly weaves together elements of suspense, drama, and mystery, creating a tense and atmospheric experience for the audience. The performances are top-notch, with strong portrayals from the lead actors. Overall, "The Marsh King's Daughter" is a haunting and intense film that will leave viewers thinking long after the credits roll.

I was quite lucky I didn't read the IMDb synopsis for 'The Marsh King's Daughter' before seeing it, because it would've completely ruined the film's opening - and the opening is the strongest thing this film has going for it.

From there the film falls into "perfectly fine" land. Everything is passable and it's a mildly entertaining way to pass 110 minutes. But there's nothing daring or original or memorable here sadly.

The film also relies heavily on characters making nonsensical decisions that only make sense as a method to drive the plot forward. You either get used to that in this film or you're unlikely to have a good time.

As I mentioned, if you go in with a positive attitude and you're not looking for perfection you might just have a reasonably good time with this film. Even if you do however, I doubt you'll think about it again a week after seeing it. 6/10.