A damsel in distress is a woman “in peril [who] needs the help of a man in order to be saved.” A damsel in distress is a less common character type in modern films. Male and female protagonists often have the same physical abilities, especially in the superhero genre. However, in the 20th century, female characters were more likely to need the help of a man to be protected from harm.
In Don Coscarelli’s The Beastmaster (1982), Kiri (Tanya Roberts) fits this character trope. She lacks the physical strength and fighting skills to overcome her male oppressors.
Kiri needs a man to save her in two scenes. After the red priests capture her, she fights one priest, but he forces her head into the water and tries to drown her. Seth (John Amos) saves her by killing the priest. In a later scene, Maax (Rip Torn) is about to sacrifice Kiri to the god Ar. She bites a priest’s wrist and punches another one, but Maax knocks her unconscious. Dar (Marc Singer) rescues her before Maax can kill her.
Although Kiri needs a man to save her, she is not without physical agency. When the priests are tied up on a raft, she pushes them overboard and they drown. In the final battle, she kills three warriors with a dagger and sword. Kiri has some measure of “girl power” but cannot fight like Dar or Seth.
A damsel in distress is often criticized because she is weaker than a male character. Because she can’t save herself, she is a passive protagonist when the hero rescues her. Nevertheless, a damsel in distress can play an important role in a romantic subplot. Dar risks his life to save Kiri, and in so doing, he proves that he loves her. In the final scene, they journey into the wilderness to live happily ever after.
Christopher John Lindsay 