Damsel

Description

“I’m goin’ West, of course!” exclaims Samuel (Robert Pattinson, a hoot), who has enlisted the help of Parson Henry (David Zellner) to save his beloved Penelope (Mia Wasikowska) so that he may propose to her, in David and Nathan Zellner’s (Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, Festival 2014) upended Western. The journey is made, things go awry, and they encounter a slew of interesting characters—including a miniature horse named Butterscotch—but in the hands of the Zellner brothers, nothing is as it seems.

“One perceptive audience member at the Sundance premiere aptly termed the movie There’s Something About Mary in the Old West, but it’s less wacky and more introspective, treating its cartoonish premise with a straight face and daring you to blink. Though some may recall the slow-burn deadpan of Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man, he certainly doesn’t have a monopoly on postmodern Westerns, and Damsel adheres more directly to the Zellners’ unique voice. Ever since Kid-Thing (2012), the brothers have excelled at writing distinctive female characters who defy expectations, and Damsel marks the apex of that trend.” —Eric Kohn, Indiewire

“Exciting, funny and beautifully shot by Adam Stone (Midnight Special, 2016) in the more verdant corners of Utah, Damsel manages to import any number of modern notions into a surprisingly traditional western structure, recognizing the appeal of the genre while not being afraid to steer it into some distinctly modern channels.” —Nick Roddick, Standard UK

Film Details