Nimona – Film Review

Nimona is a graphic novel based around Nimona – a shapeshifter – and a knight: Ballister.
It’s a fantastic story starting with Nimona insisting she’s Ballister’s sidekick.
A film based on the novel was to be released in 2021, but due to COVID and the closure of Blue Sky productions, it was cancelled by Disney but later picked up by Netflix – and it’s finally here.

Spoilers Ahead:

The story is perfectly told in the film, the art style is fantastic, and can I just point out how effortlessly queer the film is? This film shows you a loving relationship between two men that’s well written. It doesn’t feel forced, over-the-top, or uncomfortable. It’s beautiful.
The story may trigger some individuals due to Nimona’s mental health issues.
As a shapeshifter, she has the ability to fit in everywhere – or that would be the thought. She can replicate animals nearly perfectly – but not entirely, since she always turns a shade of red. This stops her from being able to fit in with animals.

She’s found with her friend as a child, shaped into a bear, being very friendly. The adults were worried, so she changed back, leading to the village people attacking and calling her a monster.
After this plot point, Nimona goes off the rails a little and goes to kill herself with a blade to the heart of a statue of her old friend.
Ballister, thankfully, can stop her. Soon after, she sacrifices herself (or so we are led to believe) to save the very people who wanted her destroyed.
This film hits me in the feels – even more so than the novel, most likely due to the combination of the story, art style, and phenomenal voice acting.
Riz Ahmed (Four Lions), Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass), Eugene Lee Yang (Try Guys), and Frances Conroy (American Horror Story) are a cast I genuinely couldn’t turn down. I would watch these four in anything.

Riz plays Ballister, and he portrays the character well. He can be a little aggressive, but he’s always the good guy – as he’s supposed to be.

Eugene’s character Goldenloin was portrayed well – even if I did want him to take a hike regularly. 

Chloë’s Nimona was genuinely a beautiful character – full of chaotic energy, mischief and highly relatable. The way her voice conveyed her emotions was outstanding.

It took forever for this film to arrive, and we saw it get delayed, delayed, and then cancelled. But it’s here, and I really hope we get a sequel.

If you have Netflix, consider watching this film. It’ll give you a good laugh and a bunch of relatable moments.