Disclaimer: Spoilers

On a whim, I decided to watch “The Marsh King’s Daughter” on Hulu today.

When I started watching it, I thought it was going to be about a reclusive family that lived in the woods and their way of life. The movie then took me by surprise around 15-20 minutes in because the true “family” dynamic was revealed. If the pacing in the beginning is too slow for you, I urge you to give the movie at least 20 minutes of your time before making a decision to turn it off.

As the movie progressed, I was hooked because I wanted to learn more about what it meant to be the Marsh’s King daughter. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers but it is complicated. I have to admit, just like Daisy Ridley’s character (Helena), I started the movie conflicted about her father (Jacob).

In the beginning, through her eyes, you believe that her father has love for his family but displays it in unconventional ways. He uses his hunting expertise to train his daughter on how to provide and protect their family. Then you learn about about the heinous crime he committed that irrevocably damaged many people, especially Helena’s mother (Beth). In the end, we alongside Helena uncover keys events in her upbringing that shows Helena’s father and mother in a different light. With these memories no longer suppressed, Helena realizes who deserves her love, forgiveness, and protection.

I would rate this film 3/5 stars. I enjoyed the movie but I wished we saw more of Helena and Beth’s relationship and it left several questions unanswered at the end.

What about you? Did you watch it? If so, did you enjoy it?

Fun Fact: Did you know this movie is based on book with the same title? It was written by Karen Dionne.