The mesmerizing tale of a woman who must risk everything to hunt down the dangerous man who shaped her past and threatens to steal her future: her own father. A film by Neil Burger, starring Daisy Ridley, Ben Mendelsohn, Garrett Hedlund, Caren Pistorius, Brooklynn Prince, and Gil Birmingham.

A psychological thriller film based on Karen Dionne’s internationally bestselling 2017 psychological suspense novel, The Marsh King’s Daughter. Selected as one of the best thrillers of the year by Library Journal, the novel received the prestigious “Crimson Scribe” award from Suspense Magazine, recognizing it as the best book of 2017. Translation rights have been sold in 25 languages.

Young Helena (Brooklynn Prince) lives with her parents in a secluded cabin nestled amidst the sprawling marshes of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Her father Jacob (Ben Mendelsohn), imparts his knowledge of tracking and hunting, teaching her to navigate the untamed wilderness and bring down prey to sustain their family. Helena often accompanies Jacob on many of his hunts, except the ones that he does not allow her to go with him. Jacob marks each successful hunt with a tattoo on Helena’s body, a testament to her growing prowess as a hunter. These markings serve as constant reminders of her triumphs and failures, driving her to excel in the harsh world they inhabit.

While Helena’s mother Beth (Caren Pistorius), assigns her mundane chores around the cabin, Helena yearns to venture beyond their confines. She often feels the weight of her mother’s disapproval, her every move scrutinized under the watchful gaze of Beth’s disappointed eyes. Helena admires her father deeply, finding solace in their shared connection, a bond far stronger than the one she shares with her mother.

One day, while Jacob is out on his solo hunt, a stranger (Josh Peace) pulls up to their cabin on an all-terrain vehicle, claiming to be lost and in need of guidance back to the trail. His cellphone is out of range, he says. Beth frantically grabs her daughter and jumps onto the ATV, pleading with the stranger to take them away before Jacob returns. The stranger overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events, is still processing the situation when a gunshot shatters the air. The stranger collapses, blood gushing from his neck. Jacob emerges from the woods, rifle in hand. Helena attempts to run towards her father, but her mother renders her unconscious, before fleeing with her on the ATV.

The revelation strikes: Jacob is a criminal who kidnapped Beth to his cabin in the marshes and presumably forced her to bear a child with him. Beth’s anger towards her daughter stems from the constant reminder of Jacob she sees in her every time she looks at her. Helena, on the other hand, blindly trusts Jacob, refusing to believe that her beloved father could ever do anything wrong. The police finally capture Jacob, and the media dubs him “The Marsh King.” Jacob spends the next twenty years of his life locked away in prison.

Years later, Helena (Daisy Ridley) stands as an adult, her youthful spirit replaced by the quiet efficiency of an accountant. Married to a professor named Stephen (Garrett Hedlund), their love has blossomed into a beautiful daughter Marigold (Joey Carson). Helena’s past remains a tightly guarded secret. She conceals her tattoos beneath long sleeves and diligently applies concealer to mask the teardrop tattoo etched on her face. When anyone asks about her parents, she deflects their curiosity with a casual tale of her parents’ mundane jobs in the insurance and telemarketing industries. Helena never reveals the truth of her father’s identity, not even to her beloved husband.

Helena’s seemingly happy life with her loving family is thrown into chaos when special agent Lorna Illing (Yanna McIntosh) and police officers arrive unannounced at her house, bearing the chilling news of Jacob’s escape from prison during a transfer to another penitentiary. They warn her that Jacob is likely to seek contact with her, despite Helena’s attempts to sever ties with her past by changing her name and relocating multiple times. Helena’s heart sinks as she realizes that her life will never truly be at peace while her father remains a fugitive at large and that he may come for her. With a newfound resolve, she vows to do whatever it takes to shield her family from the looming threat that Jacob poses.

While the film possesses psychological thriller elements that intermittently evoke a sense of danger, the script’s slow pace and lack of compelling narrative drive make for a rather tedious viewing experience. Nearly half of the film’s runtime is devoted to irrelevant backstory and suspenseful moments that feel more like hallucinations than genuine threats.

Daisy Ridley delivers a captivating performance as a woman haunted by trauma and fiercely protective of her beloved family. However, the script’s shortcomings hinder her efforts, as its repetitive attempts to generate thrills fall flat and leave the audience feeling empty.

The film does not provide a clear explanation for Jacob’s obsessive behavior towards his daughter or Helena’s intense fear of her father. Aside from a news report mentioning his abduction of a woman for twelve years, no substantial backstory is revealed. Beth’s character is marginalized and barely contributes to the narrative, leaving her motivations and perspectives shrouded in speculation. Overall, “The MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER” fails to capitalize on its promising premise, delivering a lackluster thriller that lacks depth and cohesion.

The MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER was theatrically released in the United States on 3 November 2023, by by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.