Film Review – The Marsh King’s Daughter

“The Marsh King’s Daughter” is an adaptation of a 2017 novel by Karen Dionne, and it’s frequently listed as a thriller. The film version, written by Elle Smith and Mark L. Smith, certainly offers a climax with more physical activity and gun-toting gamesmanship, but the bulk of the story primarily remains a study of psychological erosion and trauma, detailing one woman’s battle to reclaim her sanity after living with a specialized form of abuse as a child. Director Neil Burger (“Voyagers,” “The Upside,” “Divergent”) aims to make an atmospheric picture with a strong dramatic core, but he only gets halfway there. “The Marsh King’s Daughter” has powerful moments of performance and character examination, especially when dealing with the pure horror of parental manipulation, but the two sides of the endeavor don’t snap together, leaving the viewing experience uneven and the conclusion unsatisfying. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com