The traumatic past comes charging back in The Marsh King’s Daughter, with Daisy Ridley in the lead of this thriller about a woman taking on her dangerous criminal father.
Based on Karen Dionne's 2017 novel of the same name, the film follows Helena Pelletier (Ridley), who has long buried her past experience with her father, Jacob Holbrook, the notorious "Marsh King" (Ben Mendelsohn in his signature chilling villain mode), a man who kidnapped and held captive her mother and herself in the woods for 12 years in total isolation. When he reappears in her life decades later, presenting a very real threat, Helena must confront him in order to protect her family.
Written by Elle Smith and Mark L. Smith, the latter of whom co-wrote The Revenant with Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film looks like a bunch of talented actors delving into some dark themes, primarily that of realising the people who are meant to protect you may be manipulating you.
The Marsh King’s Daughter is in cinemas Oct. 6.