"Like ER on acid," claimed one critic of this Scandinavian horror-satire TV mini-series, set in a modern Danish hospital. While American horror entries have been pretty paltry as of late (Lord of Illusions, Vampire in Brooklyn), this stylish entry from director Lars Von Trier (Zentropa) follows the lives, loves, and squabbles of Danish doctors and nurses and a visiting Swedish neurologist (who periodically goes to the rooftop to scream "Danish scum!"). When a hypochondriac would-be Miss Marple with a taste for the occasional seance, gets herself checked in to Kingdom Hospital, she finds the place is haunted by the ghost of a little girl. Although the cliffhanger ending will be maddening to some (remember this is a TV series), The Kingdom is the genuine article for sending chills down your spine. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review—Dec. 13, 2005—Koch Lorber, 2 discs, 272 min., in Danish w/English subtitles, not rated, $34.98—Making its first appearance on DVD, 1994's The Kingdom: Series One boasts a purposely grainy transfer with DVD extras including selected commentary by director Lars von Trier, screenwriter Niels Vorsel, and editor Molly Stensgard; 25 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage; five minutes of outrageous newspaper commercials directed by Von Trier; and trailers. Bottom line: forget the recent Stephen King-penned remake, the original—released here with a solid set of extras—is the real deal.]
The Kingdom
(Evergreen, 265 min., in Danish w/English subtitles, avail. May 14) Vol. 11, Issue 3
The Kingdom
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