The Marsh King's Daughter (2023) User Reviews (62)

Little shadow

[AfricanBro · 5/10 · 24 November 2023]

I was really looking forward to this, purely based off on vibes. I didn't have any prior knowledge about it. The lighting's off; it looked like there was a filter on the entire time. Personally, I would have preferred it to have a more natural look because the filter didn't really enhance anything. I just started watching 'Siren' and Gil Birmingham plays a cop there too, which was a very similar role, identical really.

The story here is pretty intriguing, though it has no mystery element making it feel predictable. From the title alone, I thought it'd be similar to 'Where the Crawdads Sing,' but the similarity only lies in the setting. It reminds me somewhat of 'Stockholm, Pennsylvania' (2015) with Saoirse Ronan, although I find the story better here, but not the movie itself. It begins similarly, with a girl who was kidnapped, but her father never hurt or abused her, so she's distraught when he's portrayed as a monster. Difference is here we time jump decades later, Her past still affects her as she now has her own family and life and stuff.

The movie, in my opinion, is average; nothing exceptional, making it quite forgettable. I wasn't too invested in the characters. It's a slow-paced psychological thriller, not too emotionally intense, and the high points didn't quite hit their mark. The third act was probably always going to be challenging to execute. I couldn't think of a more natural ending for the story so it didn't bother me too much. I think it was intentionally kept simple and straightforward, because it had the potential to be much darker and more intricate.

Better than expected kept me engaged to the end

[stevenskanga · 7/10 · 15 December 2023]

The characters in this film extremely well portrayed by Mendelsohn and Daisy Ridley. Helena (played by Daisy) young girl brought up in the marshes and taught to survive in nature. I loved this a real bond between father and daughter in the wilderness later in the film you can see how torn Helena is between the modern world and the natural world, not quite knowing where she fits, the film lays out the extreme Bond and love between a mother and a daughter and the idolisation of a father. This one is definitely worth a watch story runs at a good pace it delivered well. Most mothers would die for their children you will have to watch the film to see if this is necessary.

Good for those who have not read the book

[anuradhamax7 · 7/10 · 8 November 2023]

The movie will be well enjoyed by those who have not read the book by the same name as the story and characters remainn a mystery for them and thus one can keep up with the pace no matter how slow or fast the story goes. The people who have read the book on the other hand may find it off or slow to the pace they remember reading it.

With regards to the story and acting, the actors have well adapted to the script and do justice to the script that has been given to them.

The script itself has been well adapted to the current time and is adapted to suite the timeline. The only issue one faces is that the story itself needs adapting to suite to movie watcher's taste and while it does justice to the book and it's story, it doesn't add anything new of its own which might have become it's X factor. Thus, overall, it's a watchable movie, but not something you will remember for long or will go back to watch again.

childhood vs adult perspective

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 2 November 2023]

Greetings again from the darkness. Karen Dionne's 2017 bestselling novel is the source of this film from director Neil Burger (THE ILLUSIONIST, 2006), and it has been adapted for the screen by co-writers Elle Smith and Mark L Smith (THE REVENANT, 2015). Having not read the book, I am unable to offer a comparison, however, it's probable that the film moves at a faster pace and that the book fills in much detail that the two-hour runtime is forced to skip over. Typically, neither of this would result in an improvement, yet the performances are strong enough to generate enough tension and suspense to satisfy most viewers (if not the book's fans).

Opening with some very cool shots through the marshlands, the story takes us deep in the forest as a father (Ben Mendelsohn) teaches survival skills to his 10-year-old daughter, Helena, played by Brooklynn Prince who was so memorable in THE FLORIDA PROJECT (2017). One of the lessons ends with the father proclaiming, "You must always protect your family." Sure, it's about as obvious as foreshadowing can get. There is a level of creepiness to the off-the-grid cabin living of Jacob, his daughter Helena, and Helena's mother (Caren Pistorius, SLOW WEST), and once we realize the situation, it leaves us wishing we had experienced a bit more of the misery and fear that will ultimately determine the future of these three people (plus some others).

We then flash forward twenty or so years, and find a grown-up Helena (Daisy Ridley) married to Stephen (Garrett Hedlund, MUDBOUND) living a comfortable suburban life as they raise their young daughter Marigold (Joey Carson). Helena has chosen not to tell Stephen her past, and that secret comes crashing down when her father Jacob (known as The Marsh King) escapes from jail and comes looking for her. Father and daughter reunite as the old cabin in the woods, and things go a bit bonkers; however, that earlier foreshadowing comes into play, and Helena finds herself utilizing those early daddy lessons against that same daddy.

Daisy Ridley has the physicality required to pull off this role and her resemblance to young Brooklynn Prince is uncanny. Mendelsohn is, as always, a menacing presence using subtle movements and that remarkable voice. A supporting nod goes to Gil Birmingham (HELL OR HIGH WATER, 2016) for a key role as well. At its best, the film (and I assume the book as well) captures the sometimes remarkable contrast between childhood perspective and that of a grownup. We can only hope that for most folks, it's not similar to that of Helena.

Opening in theaters on November 3, 2023.

Good start, bad finish (spoilers after a warning)

[FeastMode · 4/10 · 21 January 2024]

I was enjoying the first half of this movie. Part of the fun was discovering the premise. The trailers, of course, fully spoiled the entire first half. But I don't watch trailers, so I was intrigued. There are some pretty shots and Ridley gives another good performance.

Unfortunately, the second half is not only lackluster, but it's filled with idiotic character decisions. It ruins the likeability of the main character previously built up by the first half. And by the end of the movie, I just felt annoyed by the wasted promise.

This reminds me of Where the Crawdads Sing, a significantly better and more emotionally powerful movie. Watch that instead. (1 viewing, 1/21/2024)

SPOILERS

SPOILERS

SPOILERS

When she decides to go alone back to their old house to confront her father, all I could think is, "Are you that stupid? You, more than anyone, know better." Given his history, why would you think he would do anything other than force you to stay there against your will? For years. Maybe decades.

I understand they were trying to give her an arc where she can take control, stop running and finally move forward. But she has a family now. She absolutely cannot risk it. Imagine if he caught her. The husband and daughter would have no idea if she's alive or dead, possibly forever.

Then she finds him and when he asks for her knife so he can cut a fruit, she gives it to him.................. do you just want me to hate the protagonist?

Then she asks him to leave her and her family alone and says goodbye. Again, what in his history makes you think this is going to work? I'm getting angrier as I write this and just dropped my rating from 5 stars to 4.

And then when she finally decides to take him out, he's on a boat in the river. She misses a shot and he flips the boat so she can't shoot him again. But she has full line of sight on the river. So HOW IN THE WORLD does she lose him again?

Happy being perfectly fine and nothing more

[jtindahouse · 6/10 · 25 November 2023]

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.

Big Yawn, I've seen this plot too many times.

[wdmck · 4/10 · 5 December 2023]

Daisey is the best part of this film. Otherwise I swear I've seen this plot a thousand times. Man kidnaps women and holds her hostage for years. Suppressed memories. Dangerous Criminal is stalking a family member. Child is forced to kill her parent. The end.

Also do you expect me to believe that a man who lived most of his life in the woods, and then is in prison for TWENTY YEARS, is able to track down his child (who has changed her name) within a matter of days? As if he would know how to use the internet to that degree. Why do film makers insist on treating their audience like they're dumb.

Passable mild thriller with a poor script full of holes, implausabilities, & short-cuts.

[danieljfarthing · 6/10 · 25 November 2023]

In mild thriller "The Marsh King's Daughter" Ben Mendelsohn's arrested after holding Caren Pistorius captive in the US wilds, where she had Brooklyn Prince who she & Mendelsohn raised for 12 yrs. Years later Prince (now Daisy Ridley) has a child of her own (via hubbie Garrett Hedlund) who Mendelsohn comes for (or does he?) on escaping prison. Director Neil Burger styles it like "Where The Crawdads Sing" / "Lou" but it's lower quality, thanks mainly to the co-writing duo of debutant Elle Smith & "The Covenant" co-writer Mark L Smith whose script is implausible, hole-filled & short-cutting. Gil Birmingham lends decent support, but this one is only just passable.

I wish they went deeper into that marsh, so to speak

[NateWatchesCoolMovies · 4/10 · 5 December 2023]

Daisy Ridley and Ben Mendelsohn embody the ultimate dysfunctional father daughter dynamic in Neil Burger's The Marsh King's Daughter, a handsome, well acted, atmospheric thriller that frustratingly avoids much of the psychological depth, complexity or emotional honesty one would hope to find in a story with this much potential. Young Helena (Brooklyn Prince) lives with her enigmatic father (Mandelsohn) and troubled mother (Caren Pistorius) in the heart of Michigan's wild upper peninsula, in a nature based existence far away from society, seemingly idyllic. Soon her world is shattered when her mother grabs her and makes a breathless escape to civilization and she realizes her father whom she loves, trusts and idolizes is in fact a disturbed abductor who has been keeping her mother out there all these years. She grows up into haunted Daisy Ridley who harbours this difficult secret for years, has a daughter of her own and tries to move on... until dad escapes from prison and comes looking for her. This film profoundly frustrated me because Daisy and Ben are such capable, terrific actors and getting them for a script like this is so exciting but the narrative here devolves into such a predictable, cheap thriller in the third act it almost made me mad. It's disheartening because there are scenes of such power and potency early in, like the visually invigorating prologue with her as a kid full of daring drone camera choices and lush, gorgeous wilderness cinematography. Later on we observe Ridley in a stunning moment of vulnerability as she finally tells her husband (Garrett Hedlund) about her shrouded past. This could have been such a dense, thought provoking piece of work but the minute Dad shows up back into the picture the writing just flattens right out into this superficial, rushed, surface level resolution and it's a goddamn shame. This is based on a book by somebody called Karen Dionne and I'm not sure if her version of the story took a little more tact and introspection with these characters but if so, she's probably out there fuming at how careless an adaptation this is. You're better off watching the first half, which is admittedly excellent on almost every level, then imagining up your own ending.

Enjoyable mystery/thriller.

[deloudelouvain · 8/10 · 31 January 2024]

The Marsh King's Daughter deserves a higher rating on here. In the mystery/thriller genre it's a well made movie. There is a nice flow to the story, not very fast paced but there is a constant mystery vibe that keeps you interested in the story. You know something is about to happen, it's just a matter of time before hell breaks loose. Sometimes a slow pace makes a movie boring but that wasn't the case with this one. Daisy Ridley and Ben Mendelsohn did a good job playing daughter and father. Brooklynn Prince plays the daughter at a young age and she did really well as well. So yes I'm a bit surprised by the rather low ratings. I'm sure it will please people that like this genre of movies.

A solid thriller

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 20 January 2024]

As this film opens we find Helena living deep in the wilderness with her parents. She is particularly close to her father who has taught her how to understand nature and live off the land. Then one day, while her father is away, a stranger turns up on a quadbike. He says he is lost and asks directions... suddenly Helena's mother begs him to take them away from there. Her father shoots the man but they get away on the bike. She later learns that her father had kidnapped her mother two years before she was born. Her father is jailed. The years pass and she has left that life behind, married and has a daughter of her own. Then her father escapes from jail. Soon after she is told he died in a car crash; his burnt body identified by distinctive dental work. Not convinced that he is dead she heads back into the wilderness; the place she is sure he will have headed to.

This might not be the best example of the genre but it is still rather fun. Early scenes serve to introduce the characters before delivering the sucker punch regarding Helena's not so wonderful father. It does get a little slow for a while as older Helena wonders what really happened to her father after his escape and worries about her family. Once she is back in the marshy wilderness the tension mounts nicely. Typically one might expect our heroine to have to face several bad guys but this avoids that cliché. The cast is impressive, especially Daisy Ridley who plays the older Helena and Ben Mendelsohn who is suitably ambiguous as her father. The wilderness locations used look great. There isn't too much in the way of disturbing material; the violence is fairly mild and refreshingly the dialogue isn't peppered with swearing. Overall a solid little thriller, perhaps not a must see but it passes the time nicely.

The Marsh King's Daughter

[henry8-3 · 4/10 · 21 January 2024]

Helena has grown up in isolated marshland in awe of her father who teaches her advanced survival skills and disdain for her mother. When it becomes clear that her father is in fact a nut and ends up in prison, Helena grows up with a normal job and a husband and young daughter. Then her obsessive father escapes from prison.

This all starts interestingly enough with bad dad Ben Mendelsohn showing the excellent Brooklynn Prince the way around the woods. What follows is then grown up Daisy Ridley - perfectly good performance - realising that to save her own daughter she must seek out and sort daddy out. Thereafter, whilst in no way bad, it turns into a rather predictable little league Deliverance leading to an enjoyable but not very surprising conclusion. Watchable.

Good yet dragging.

[Anurag-Shetty · 7/10 · 6 November 2023]

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 book was so much better...

[joanamcc · 6/10 · 31 October 2023]

I don't like to be that person who says the book was better, but in this case I couldn't enjoy the film because I had read the book. The film felt rushed and it lacked deepness: the story, the characters and the relations between them lacked deepness. Everything happened really fast and what we got to see from the main character's childhood wasn't enough. Since it lacked deepness, some moments seemed like they made no sense.

My boyfriend hadn't read the book, but he went to see the film with me and he also felt like it was rushed and that they just tried to summarize a complex story with complex characters.

It's a very good story though and it will keep you entertained, specially if you know nothing about it. Also the acting isn't bad at all. I give it a 6 based on the film itself, ignoring the existence of the book.

Anyway, I hope you get to enjoy it.

Boredom, boredom and a lot of boredom

[hhhuuu-91747 · 1/10 · 22 November 2023]

I really regret watching it I do not know what the artistic value is in this film. It is a usual story and there is no real revenge except for the last 5 minutes of conflict. The rest of the film is routine events. She goes with her daughter to school. She kisses her husband before leaving. She goes to work and enters accounts or something like that.., even her mother's order is missing, and the way her father escapes. It is trite, the important events of the film are fast, and the useless events are slow and boring, a film that is just regret and a waste of time. There is not an ounce of excitement or fun.

Silly plot holes

[hohlkopf2000 · 6/10 · 22 November 2023]

Watch it one time, if you have not anything better to do with your life, and then forget it soon.

Its a slow thriller about a man who forced a women to live with him in the wilderness far from any other people. They have a daughter and the daughter is happy there. She is born there and does not know anything else than the woods. Daddy is proud of her as she is growing up and learns to hunt. But her mother is waiting for a chance to escape...

Talking about plot holes: They live in absolute isolation. Still they got weapons, ammo, tools, clothes, oil for the lamp, oven, furniture, glass for windows... How did all the equipment get there?

The don't grow vegetables. Eating only hunted meat. For years and years. Do you think its possible? For a child?

The place is so isolated that it needs a boat to reach it. Still one day there appears a guy with a quad machine who lost his way. And he obviously did not come by boat.

Also also Grandpa Clark appeared there. Which way did he come?

A rifle that was lying for 20 years unprotected under the wooden floor of a forest shack would definitely stuck and be jammed. But she uses it as if it was polished just yesterday.

Okay forget the pedantic details. Its not a bad movie. Just okay.

An Average Outdoors Thriller

[zardoz-13 · 5/10 · 19 January 2024]

Predictable from fade-in to fade out, "The Marsh King's Daughter" benefits strictly from the sterling performances of its gifted cast as well as the sprawling beauty of its Canadian scenery. "Illusionist" helmer Neil Burger directed this straightforward, by-the-numbers yarn based pm Karen Dionne's bestselling 2017 novel of the same name. "Revenant" scenarist Mark L. Smith and his daughter Elle Smith penned the screenplay. Suspense is singularly lacking in this psychological thriller. Cast as our heroine Helena, Daisy Ridley of "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" is the adult daughter of a rugged outdoorsman, the eponymous Marsh King (Ben Mendelson of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"), who raised her as a tomboy so she could not only live in the wilderness but also live off the land. He teaches her how to shoot a rifle and how to track wild game by the impression that the animal makes on the ground. Jacob teaches young Helena (Brooklynn Prince of "Cocaine Bear") everything she needs to know about being a skilled hunter. First and foremost, he indoctrinates in young Helena the necessity to protect her family. Ultimately, this proves to be Jacob's undoing. Unfortunately, Helena's seemingly bucolic lifestyle is marred by the evil circumstances surrounding her mom's predicament. Initially, Jacob abducted Helena's mom, Beth (Caren Pistorius of "Slow West"), and he took her against her will deep into the woods far from civilization as she knew it. He forced her to live in a remote spot where she couldn't escape. During her captivity, Jacob and Beth had a child Helena, and their little girl lives in blissful ignorance about her background.

Eventually, everything changes for better and worse when a guy on a four-wheeler who is lost in the woods cruises up to their cabin searching for directions. Without a qualm, Jacob shoots and kills him. Later, the authorities, primarily Sheriff Clark Bekkum (Gil Birmingham of "Wind River"), rescues Helena and her mom and arrests Jacob. Many years later, Helena winds up marrying a handsome college professor, Stephen (Garrett Hedlund of "TRON: Legacy"), and they have a daughter, Marigold (newcomer Joey Carson), and are living happily ever after in their own home. After Clark rescued Beth, he wound up marrying her. One day, Helena learns his estranged father has escaped from prison while being transferred in a prison van. Later, the authorities discover Jacob's body in the flaming wreckage of a stolen vehicle. They make a positive identification because the corpse had some of Jacob's teeth. However, Helena suspects Jacob is not dead, despite the assurances of the FBI and the local enforcement who are satisfied entirely that Jacob has bought the farm. Meantime, Helena has revealed to Stephen nothing about her checkered past life as well as her murderous father, so Stephen is caught off completely guard and stunned by the news that an escaped convict is none other than Helena's diabolical dad.

Acting on her gut feelings, Helena plunges into the woods and eventually confronts her father in the wilderness near their old stomping grounds. Helena's delusional dad wants Helena and Marigold to accompany him to Canada where they can grow old together as a family. Naturally, Helena wants no part of this proposition. When Clark comes looking for Helena, Jacob guns him down. Earlier, Jacob had wounded Helena in the leg and held her at gunpoint. Earlier, our heroine has recovered her old lever-action rifle from the cabin where she grew up and followed Jacob. She shoots at him and his canoe overturns. When she goes to investigate the capsized canoe, Jacob surprises her and takes her hostage. Since his canoe is ruined, Jacob forces his wounded daughter to take him to the canoe that she used to enter the marsh. Cleverly, Helena outwits Jacob and she ends up shooting him in the head. Had this been a lame horror story, Helena would have wounded rather than killed him. Happily, she puts Jacob out of her misery. Altogether, "The Marsh King's Daughter" amounts to little more than an average, boilerplate thriller that springs few surprises and lacks spontaneity.

Underrated, from what I see on this site.

[Mr_Sophistication_Uk · 7/10 · 3 February 2024]

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.

Stay Away

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 8 December 2023]

The production takes place in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan. Helena (Brooklynn Prince, Daisy Ridley) lives in a cabin in the woods with her mom (Caren Pistorius) and dad (Ben Mendelsohn). She is a daddy's girl as he teaches her to hunt, trap, and track. Then suddenly out of the blue, her mother manages to take an ATV from a lost soul and forces her daughter to ride with her to town. Mom claims she was kidnapped and held prisoner. Helena wants her dad. Years past. Her dad is in prison and was nicknamed "The Marsh King." Helena is married and with a daughter. Neither knows of her past. Then Daddy escapes prison.

Daisy was good in a film that goes mostly nowhere. It has a few good scenes. I liked Helena as a child more than an adult. The movie becomes boring once Helena grows up.

Guide" No swearing, sex, or nudity.

Better than I had expected.

[aleksann · 8/10 · 9 December 2023]

Ok, so this movie is a slow burn, a lot of people will not like that, but if you are into slow burn movies like me, you will enjoy it. Great acting from all the actors and actresses in the movie. They have a good rapport and the story is believable. We are given a general story about an abducted woman and her child in the hold of a kidnapper, they manage to escape, the man goes to prison and then comes back with a fury, leading to a climax hanging on a cliff edge and the ultimate resolution works for me.

The filming is great, scenes and location seems carefully picked, the great feel of the outdoors captivates me greatly and drags me in and gets me involved.

Well done to all involved. Great movie.

It's great to see Daisy Ridley outside of a Star Wars movie. She's got the acting chops and fierce physicality for this kind of movie, so I hope to see her in more films soon

[trinaboice · 7/10 · 25 November 2023]

IN A NUTSHELL: A woman seeks revenge against the man who kidnapped her mother.

This movie is directed by Neil Burger and written by Elle Smith, Mark L. Smith, and Karen Dionne based on the book by Karen Dionne.

THINGS I LIKED: It's great to see Daisy Ridley outside of a Star Wars movie. She's got the acting chops and fierce physicality for this kind of movie, so I hope to see her in more films soon.

I didn't even recognize Ben Mendelsohn with all of that facial hair! He's consistently fantastic in everything he does. He and Daisy Ridley both starred in Star Wars movies. They're the reason why you would want to watch this film.

We get to learn some tips about surviving in the wilderness and hunting animals.

Beautiful cinematography.

I've never read the book the movie is based on, so I can't tell you how they compare, but I've heard that the movie is better if you haven't read the book and don't know the mystery in the story.

The color palette looks filtered, which was a wise choice to visually illustrate how past memories don't always embrace reality.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Like the lake in the wilderness, the movie is very slow-moving. The pace and tone change dramatically from Act 1 to Act 3. Some scenes could have definitely been cut to tighten up the telling. The wilderness story feels like a different movie from the home invasion one.

The ending is a bit clunky which left me with feelings of uncertainty about the entire movie's experience and what it was really trying to say.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be bored. So will some adults.

Bloody violence with a gun and other weapons on animals and humans We see a woman in her underwear.

Two of the characters have a lot of tattoos. We watch a man poke a needle in a girl's arm to give her a tattoo.

!

Every woman has imagined this for FREE

[aimeedillonwilliams · 1/10 · 4 November 2023]

I walked into a movie knowing nothing about it, my fault. I needed to kill some time and it ended exactly when I needed it to end. Well, I needed it to end about 10 minutes after it started. This story is the kind of movie that might be on tv on any given Saturday while you're cleaning, meaning I've seen similar plots before. It's the story every woman has has anxiety ridden thoughts about for herself, daughter, sister, mother and any woman on earth. Oh and some version of it IS actually happening all the time. Why on earth would we need it played out on screen? Waste of time. Also, the story itself was so formulaic I predicted half of it before it happened. Oh I bet he's going to go after the grandchild at some point.... Yep. I bet he's going to capture her when she goes back to talk to him. Yeah...talk to the FBI most wanted lunatic who raped her mother for 12 years. I'm out. Seriously, buy any other ticket.

An Unravelling Of Human Nature

[JoshuaMercott · 7/10 · 1 December 2023]

A fascinating full-circle story unfolded in "The Marsh King's Daughter". The titular Helena, played by Daisy Ridley, gave a simple but impactful performance in this movie about a daughter trying to come to terms with the fact that her mother (Beth, played by Caren Pistorius) was once kidnapped (and held quietly captive for twelve years) by the very man Helena called father.

Her dad Jacob (played by Ben Mendelsohn), the titular 'marsh king', was an adept hunter who knew the marshes like the back of his hand. Stern but wise, he taught his daughter plenty of tips and tricks. As time went, Helena loved spending time with her father whom she believed always had her best interests at heart.

Much closer to her father than she could ever be with her mum, Helena's life grew into a complex tapestry of feelings and experiences that defined her journey into womanhood, more so after her mother subdued and escaped the woods with her, taking her away from Jacob.

This complex story soon gained a notable layer of patriarchal subtext, especially in connection to the so-called place within a male-dominated society women are expected to occupy.

Her father in jail, Helena grew to become a mother herself. Her relationship with her daughter Marigold (played by Joey Carson) held subtle nuances that served as carryovers from Helena's own experiences when she used to live in the woods and hunt in the marshes with her father.

But the way Helena chose to bring her own child up was markedly different, hinting at the importance mothers have in the lives of their daughters. This tied in quite well with the possibility that her mother Beth had stayed purely to keep her safe and not because she was too afraid to leave Jacob and run.

Meanwhile, Helena's husband Stephen (played by Garrett Hedlund) proved to be understanding and patient in all the ways that mattered. But the marriage did have its ups and downs, owing in large part to Helena keeping all her childhood traumas a secret from him. This character provided an alternative look at men who are non-patriarchal and still capable of being real men.

Helena's seemingly mundane life was soon turned upside down, again, when her father broke out of a prisoner transport vehicle and sought her out. He held on to the all-controlling need to have a family again, even if it meant forcing his own daughter to obey and threatening to kidnap his granddaughter Marigold to make Helena compliant. Distinct social subtexts continued to enrich the plot in this manner.

All this was exceptionally portrayed in the movie. Though I haven't read the book (published, 2017) by Karen Dionne, I have a strong feeling the producers of this movie did right by it. "The Marsh King's Daughter" possessed a literary pace and flair that was certainly worth appreciating.

Helena's younger version, played by Brooklynn Prince, did great work in the movie. And so did Marigold (played by Joey Carson as Marigold). Despite their young ages, both girls gave noteworthy performances.

I especially liked how careful the musical score was. The sounds of Nature were melodic enough in some of the scenes and weren't disturbed, so to speak. This was an intriguingly clever, and risky, creative decision in a movie that didn't really have a whole lot going for it, except steady suspense and small bursts of action.

"The Marsh King's Daughter" was intense, multi-layered, and focused. It was an engaging take on the human condition, particularly patriarchy. It reiterated how the heart, as opposed to the mind, never forgets.

Not bad but quite predictable

[maxbinnewies · 7/10 · 15 January 2024]

Overall I enjoyed watching The Marsh King's Daughter. There are some good scenes with drama and suspense. Following Elaina along for her story is captivating and she plays the part well.

However, it's also far from perfect. Besides Elaina (both young and old) every other character and actor is lacking quite a bit, particularly the husband.

Overall, the story could have had some more elements to it. Without wanting to spoiler, the whole movie plot is basically what you can see in the trailer with a predictable outcome. Not every movie needs twists and turns but maybe some plot developments on the side would have been nice.

However, with some minor flaws, it is still well worth watching.

This is emotionless, boring nonsense!🍇🍇

[Democrit · 4/10 · 26 November 2023]

The film "The Daughter of the Swamp King" turned out to be a disappointment in many aspects. Starting with the first scene, which suggests a mysterious question, but does not continue its development, and ending with a lack of depth and emotional attachment to the characters. The picture promises a lot, but does not meet the expectations of the audience.

It is also worth noting the use of the "swamp world" metaphor, which turned out to be incoherent and intrusive. The title of the film "The Daughter of the Swamp King" does not reflect the content and does not explain the motives of the antagonist, making the plot confusing and meaningless: the father maniacally pursues his daughter, but why does he do it? Of course, they don't try to explain it to us.

The constant appearance of the antihero in different places without explaining how he does it causes confusion and distrust. This is a flaw in the script that we cannot forgive, especially if the story does not offer anything more interesting.

The lifelessness of family relationships and the lack of emotional connection between the characters make the film empty and expressionless. And even despite the participation of famous actors, unfortunately, they could not save this picture.

The final denouement, in which the heroine sees the ghost of her mother, also raises doubts about its illogic and implausibility. This only reinforces the feeling that the film "The Daughter of the Swamp King" was not worked out deeply and thoroughly enough.

As a result, instead of the promised dramatic and exciting work, we get an empty and unconvincing story. The unsuccessful work of the screenwriter, director and actors greatly undermines all the efforts of the camerawork. It's a pity that such a talented actor as Ben Mendelsohn starred in this unsuccessful film. Daisy Ridley's game is also not capable of correcting the situation. In general, the film "The Daughter of the Swamp King" turned out to be unsuccessful and does not deserve such high marks.