"Riget" (1994) (mini)

reviewed by
Christopher Null


                                  THE KINGDOM
                      A film review by Christopher Null
                       Copyright 1996 Christopher Null

This is what would happen if you let David Lynch loose on the set of "ER" with nothing but a TV camera, a gaggle of Danish actors, and a bone saw. THE KINGDOM, an extremely ambitious effort for both the filmmakers and the audience, is Denmark's hipper-than-thou answer to "Twin Peaks."

I'm not even going to attempt to explain the plot of THE KINGDOM, as it could fill several pages and still not make a lick of sense. I'll leave it at this: "The Kingdom" is a giant Copenhagen hospital, and every single room in it (and most of the corridors, and the driveway, and the parking lot) contains at least one complete wacko.

The dearth of information about this "film" belies its true beginnings as a serialized TV show in Denmark. The movie version of THE KINGDOM is nothing more than the first 4 episodes (of a planned 13) from this television show slapped back to back, converted to film, and played in all its grainy glory on the big screen. (Note! This means it's *5 hours* long. Really.) In fact, watching THE KINGDOM is a very TV-like experience. The only things missing are the commercials and a ringing telephone. Of course, I'm not one to watch 5 hours of TV in one sitting. I left after Episode 2, as it's pretty clear where the "movie" is going and that there's not going to be a "big finish" after Episode 4.

This is not to say that THE KINGDOM isn't worth watching. Rather, you *have* to know what you're getting into. Here's some of what you get: a child's ghost living in an elevator shaft, patients holding a seance in their room, bizarre cults of doctors akin to the Masons, an intern who decapitates a corpse to impress his love, a phantom ambulance...and that's just Episode 1. What you don't get is this: much background music, a discernibly strong plotline, a camera in focus, character motivations, or just about anything else you typically expect to find in the world of film. In other words, THE KINGDOM is all but destined to become a phenomenal cult hit.

Occasionally, THE KINGDOM overcomes its meandering flaws and completely shocks the audience with some truly powerful scenes. However, most of the time, the movie is just plain weird, and it defies description in any other way. If your butt can handle 5 hours in a movie theater and this sounds like your cup of tea, don't miss it. Otherwise, wait for video...and get the 3-day rental. You'll need it.

     In Danish and Swedish with subtitles.
RATING:  ***
\-------------------------------\     
|*     Unquestionably awful     |     
|**    Sub-par on many levels   |     
|***   Average, hits and misses |     
|****  Good, memorable film     |     
|***** Perfection               |     
\-------------------------------\     

-Christopher Null / null@utxvms.cc.utexas.edu -Movie Emporium (reviews) / http://www.notes.tpoint.net/emporium/ -Contributing Editor, FEEDBACK / http://www.eden.com/~feedback/ -E-mail requests to join the movie review mailing list


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