The Kingdom (1994)

Average rating

(70%)

Starring:	Ernst-Hugo Jaregard \| Kirsten Rolffes \| Holger Juul Hansen
Director:	Lars Von Trier
Studio:	ICA PROJECTS LTD.
Run time:	325 mins
Genres:	Horror
Languages:	Danish
Subtitles:	English
Released:	(unknown)
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Director Lars von Trier puts his mischievous mind to work once again, this time creating a bizarre, humourous, and suspenseful tale about a Danish hospital that is haunted by ancient spirits. Copenhagen's largest hospital is nicknamed the Kingdom, and there are many odd things happening inside of it. The strange members of the medical staff have to contend with--not only such heinous matters as murder and malpractice--but also occurrences linked to the occult and the supernatural. When a hypochondriac patient--who also happens to be the mother of one of the staff's employees--begins to see the ghost of a young girl who is trying to tell her something, she unsuccessfully tries to convince the staff that she isn't delusional. It isn't until each individual begins to experience mysterious episodes for themselves that the Kingdom starts to collapse. And when a female doctor becomes pregnant, the fetus's alarming growth rate forces her to give birth prematurely, bringing the spirits to life. Filmed for Danish television, von Trier's quirky drama builds in tension up to its shocking finale.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5

This lengthy but eerily engrossing movie comprises the first four episodes of Lars von Trier's 13-part Danish TV series, a supernatural soap about the bizarre doctors, nurses, patients and restless spirits in a Copenhagen hospital. Shot with a visual style that mirrors the colour of bodily fluids, and filled with an incredible gallery of eccentric characters (none of whom seem to have health care at the top of their agenda), von Trier's unique opus is darkly humorous and extremely creepy. After four hours, though, those seeking a neat resolution might be a bit miffed.

Rating of 2 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

Bizarre drama, originally made for television, that resembles a patient's worst nightmares, where one doctor abandons his charges to practise voodoo and another is impregnated by the ghost of a malignant murderer; it is the obverse of your average soap op

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Rated 3 stars
Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

The strength of most horror movies is in conveying an extraterrestrial presence as abnormal. We are all well acquainted with the normal and hence are not afraid of it. The paranormal on the other hand infuses fear in us largely because of unfamiliarity.

Lars Von Trier introduces the spirits with suspense and then turns them into objects of humour as the miniseries ends. The interspersed comedy outperforms the sobriety. At the end of the miniseries, I ended up accepting the spirits as a normality.

The acting is commendable, of whom Ernst-Hugo Järegård deserves mention. He plays Dr Stig Helmer, an uptight neurosurgeon who has major problems adapting to life in Denmark.

The plot was interesting enough to hold my attention, although in itself it wasn't mindblowing. The cinematography revealed some interesting angles especially in the hospital corridors.

With an engaging introduction, a body of suspense and an aftertaste of humour, the miniseries was a good watch.

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Rated 4 stars
Amazing TV Experience

James Green from Surrey, England, 16th November, 2007

The Kingdom is a remarkable Danish TV mini-series. It is primarily a ghost story but one told in an extraordinary way. There are no flashy techniques but lots of examples of skilful direction to convey unease and, at times, fear. This is all the more remarkable as it is also a black comedy that is populated by the most quirky bunch of medics and patients you could ever imagine. This is beautifully handled and very funny at times. Yet the chills still remain. However, the series has nothing to warrant its '18' certificate that was awarded for one dream sequence with some flesh-eating that is not as explicit as some '15' films. It has a very stark visual style with natural lighting used: this means very washed out colours and very grainy film. The only downside is that the story does not have a proper resolution as a season 2 was made. Unfortunately this is not available either here or in the US.

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