‘Sleeping Princess’ (2024) Netflix Movie Review - Cringe, Absurd, and Pointless

This has to be one of the most absurd movies I have watched so far and at this point it is annoying. There’s something uniquely disappointing about a film that tries to modernize classic fairytales but fails to capture the magic that makes them timeless. Sleeping Princess is one of those films. Borrowing heavily from beloved stories like Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, this film attempts to craft a contemporary fairytale but ends up feeling like a mismatched patchwork that never comes together.

The story follows Rosa, a 16-year-old girl raised by her three adoptive brothers, who act as father figures. Her backstory is tragic: as a child, Rosa was targeted by a malevolent woman who fed her a poisoned apple, believing it would kill her. To protect her, Rosa's biological parents faked her death and sent her to Brazil to live with her uncles. Now, as a teenager, Rosa dreams of a mysterious boy who promises to marry her, raising questions about his identity and whether her past danger will resurface. And is Rosa truly safe in Brazil? Will the evil woman come after her?

While the premise had potential, Sleeping Princess quickly devolves into a chaotic mess. The plot is convoluted, with too many loose threads and half-baked ideas. The film lacks the emotional depth needed to make the audience care about Rosa’s journey or fear for her safety. Instead, it feels like the filmmakers tried to cram every fairytale trope into one story without considering coherence or originality.

Visually, the film is a letdown. Despite its attempt to evoke a dreamy fairytale ambiance, the set design and costumes feel uninspired and generic. There’s no enchanting world-building to draw viewers in—just a bland backdrop that fails to elevate the story.

The performances are equally underwhelming. The adult cast delivers over-the-top performances, making their characters seem caricatured rather than compelling. Meanwhile, the younger actors try hard but fail to convey genuine emotion. This disconnect between the cast and the material results in awkward, cringeworthy moments that take you out of the story rather than immersing you in it.

The narrative structure is another glaring issue. The pacing is uneven, rushing through critical plot points while dragging on unnecessary subplots. For instance, Rosa’s relationship with her adoptive brothers is mentioned but never explored in a meaningful way. Likewise, the identity of the mysterious boy in her dreams, which could have been a captivating plotline, is poorly handled, leaving viewers frustrated rather than intrigued.

Sleeping Princess is an exercise in frustration. Despite its fairytale roots, the film fails to weave any magic. The story is superficial, the characters are one-dimensional, and the emotional stakes are nonexistent. Ultimately, it leaves viewers asking, "Why was this movie made?"

For fans of fairytales, this film will likely feel like a betrayal of the genre. Instead of enchanting or inspiring, Sleeping Princess ends up as a cautionary tale about how not to modernize classic stories. Unfortunately, this film belongs in a deep slumber, never to be awakened.

Final Score- [3/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times