The King

Not a particularly good film, but a perversely fascinating one, James Marsh's The King is about a young man just out of the Navy named Elvis (Gael García Bernal), who travels to Corpus Christi, TX to confront the fundamentalist minister father (William Hurt) who's never acknowledged him. After the preacher rebuffs him—or at least doesn't welcome him enthusiastically enough—Elvis undertakes what amounts to a stealth campaign of retribution against the man and his family. While it wouldn't be fair to reveal the forms his schemes take, it may be noted that a) the preacher's daughter is a pretty but inexperienced young girl eager for attention, b) the preacher's legitimate son does not look kindly on anyone who disturbs the propriety of their household, and c) the ending is very bizarre. There's a creepy undercurrent to the apparently normal world depicted in The King—a dichotomy reflected in the look of the picture, which alternates between almost offhanded naturalism and a dreamy moodiness (a weirdly jaunty musical score further accentuates the sense of emotional displacement). Too, it's obviously intended to be taken as a none-too-subtle religious parable, a replay of scriptural stories of human weakness, temptation, birthright, and the quiet power of evil. Even though it's fragmented and often unpleasant, The King will hold your attention in spite (or perhaps because) of its imperfections. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director James Marsh and writer-producer Milo Addica, seven minutes of deleted scenes, a three-minute rehearsal segment featuring costars Gael Garcia Bernal and Paul Dano, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a flawed but interesting film.] (F. Swietek)