Neil Burger’s adaptation of “The Marsh King’s Daughter” grapples with a challenge similar to “Where the Crawdads Sing,” failing to fully capture the novel’s poetic language. While performances by Ben Mendelsohn, Daisy Ridley, and Gil Birmingham are strong, the film hovers in the realm of a mid-level thriller. Brooklynn Prince portrays Helena, raised in the seclusion of Michigan’s marshes, molded by her father’s peculiar teachings. The narrative takes an unexpected turn when a stranger disrupts their isolated life. Ridley, as adult Helena, reveals a life shrouded in secrecy, distanced from her traumatic past. However, as her father escapes from prison, the film’s pacing falters, becoming predictable. Despite Mendelsohn’s compelling performance, the lack of urgency undermines the thriller’s essence, preventing the adaptation from fully embracing the lyrical depth of its literary origin. Visit afdah tv for more!

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