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.

If you've seen 2022's Where the Crawdads Sing, you'll probably have feelings of deja vu watching The Marsh King's Daughter, at least initially. While The Marsh King's Daughter also shares an equally deep affection for the backwoods, the tenor of these movies couldn't be more different. Whereas Crawdads was an unabashed romantic melodrama, this movie is a suspense thriller. In that regard, Marsh King is unsurprising and familiar, but did remind me of the similarly themed (and much better) Leave No Trace.

While nothing spectacular as a movie, Marsh King does have solid performances from Daisy Ridley and Ben Mendelssohn working in its favor. How interesting it is to see these Star Wars alumni outside of the blockbusters they're known for. (Mendelssohn also played a significant role as the member of the Skrull race in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.) Ridley's performance here shows why she was chosen for the role of Rey in the first place. As Helena, she's able to bring out the character's fearlessness and determination, with underlying notes of empathy and sensitivity. She's undeniably an engaging action movie heroine. As Helena's father, Mendelssohn is casually devious and a perfect villain. The moment he smiles his insinuating smile, you know for sure you can't trust him and that he'll probably kill you. Together, the two make the movie worth watching, reminding us how good they are when they play normal, Earthbound characters. Mildly Recommended.

Detroitcineaste dot net.