EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING and DOMINION: PREQUEL TO THE EXORCIST: REVIEWS BY SANDRA HARRIS.

King Of Devil's Island DVD Review

King of Devil's Island (2010), though not an easy film to watch, is a drama which demands to be seen. Starring Stellan Skarsgård, Kristoffer Joner and Benjamin Helstad and directed by Marius Holst, this is a harrowing lesson in the harsh reality of human nature and man's inner strength in the face of adversity.

Based on true events, the story is set in the infamous correctional facility of Bastøy on a remote and inhospitable island in the Norwegian fjords, during the early part of the 20th century. When a new and headstrong boy called Erling (Helstad) arrives it soon becomes clear to everyone, especially Bastøy's governor Håkon (Skarsgård), that this troubled young man is not ready to conform to the strict regime on the island. Before long Erling's rebellious nature comes to the fore with life changing results for them all.

King of Devil's Island is a devastating film. Shot on location in Estonia and Norway, the mesmeric natural beauty of its setting and the minimal style and colour palette in which it is shot is breathtaking. Both the snow and ice covered countryside outside backing onto a seemingly endless sea which stretches beyond the island's rough beach, and the facility's interior monotone colour scheme of grey and white, create perfect neutral surroundings against which the action plays out.

This harsh air continues with the film's overriding realism - both in the conditions in which the boys live and in the brutality of the men who run the concentration camp facility - and at points threatens to engulf the viewer with its seeping sense of despair and hopelessness. From this angle the film works marvellously, leaving you with a real feeling of what these young men (one of whose only crime had been to steal a few pence from a church offering plate) went through, and hence an admiration for their stoic perseverance to survive in the face of insurmountable odds.

Ultimately however this film revolves around three people - Erling, Håkon and Brâthan (Kristoffer Joner) the sadistic head of Erling's section within Bastøy. That by the end of the film it is Erling and his fellow inmates with whom the viewer sides will come as no surprise. However it is the performances of the actors who bring these three disparate characters to life which is undoubtedly the most memorable aspect of the film. From the outstanding performance of newcomer Helstad as the damaged Erling to Skarsgård as the ineffectual and ultimately weak Håkon and Joner as his twisted subordinate, the relationship which plays out between these men will hold your attention until the film's final reel.

Shocking, moving and mesmeric in equal proportions, King of Devil's Island makes essential viewing if only as a warning against the extremities of human nature and man's cruelty against his fellow man.

Cleaver Patterson

★★★★☆

Rating:12
UK DVD/BD Release Date: 29th October 2012
Directed By: Marius Holst
Cast: Stellan Skarsgård, Benjamin Helstad,Kristoffer Joner, Trond Nilssen
Buy King of Devil's Island:DVD / Blu-ray

Trailer 2 For Marius Holst's KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND

source Twitch
Marius Holst's KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND is worth a mention on cinehouse aparrt from the trailer noe English friendly, its also worth mentioning the cast which includes Stellan Skarsgardand Kristoffer Joner!

The movie willbe released next friday 17th December in norway.

Based on a true story: Norwegian winter, early20th century. On the island Bastoy, located in the Oslo fjord live a group of delinquent, young boys aged 11 to 18. The boys daily, sadistic regime is run by the guards and the principal who bestow both mental and physical abuse on them. Instead of the boys being straightened out with education they end up being used as cheap, manual labor. The boys attempt to survive by adapting to their inhumane conditions. One day a new boy, Erling (17), arrives with his own agenda; how to escape from the island. How far is he willing to go in order to get his freedom? After a tragic incident takes place, Erling ends up forced into the destinies of the other boys by leading them into a violent uprising. Once the boys manage to take over Bastoy 150 government soldiers are sent in to restore order.

Trailer after the break....

Trailer For Stellan Skarsgaard in KINGS OF DEVIL ISLAND (Kongen av Bastøy)

source Twitch
There's a few actors out there in movieland who may have a few years ago appeared in one or two good movies then disappeared of the face of the earth and suddenly there appearing in every tom dick or harry, Stellan Skarsgaard is one of those actors however he does choose better 'qaulity parts'.
For those who just see Hollywood many only see Skarsgaard as bootsrap bill from Pirates of Carribean, One of the three dads in Mama Mia or the Vactian City chief security officer in Angels & Demons, but lookfurther affield we are talking about one of Scandanavia's biggest movie stars and below is the trailer for his next movie KINGS OF DEVIL ISLAND (Kongen av Bastøy).
The movie is set in a Oslo Young persons prison during the early 20th century, though he maybe the big name its the youngsters playing the prisoners who are the real stsars her with Benjamin Helstad one of the noteable names delivering what looks like a positive review with this movie only been his second feature. Kristoffer Joner another big name in Norway also appears.

KINGS OF THE DEVIL ISLAND will be out on December 17th in scandanavia, synopsis and trailer after the break....