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"Riget II" (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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17 reviews in total

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11 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
Disturbing, fascinating, sharp biting black humor...I loved it!, 1 April 2004

Author: KimInKentucky (kimberly.plumley@lpnt.net) from Mayfield, Kentucky

I reached the end of this and I was almost shouting "No, no, no, NO! It cannot end here! There are too many unanswered questions! The engagement of the dishwashers? Mona's disappearance? Helmer's comeuppance? The "zombie"? Was Little Brother saved by his father? And what about the head???????" ARGH!! Then I read that at least two of the cast members had passed on and I have to say, I know it probably wouldn't be true to Lars von Trier's vision, but I would gladly look past replacement actors just to see the ending he had planned! Granted, it would be hard to find someone to play Helmer as the character deserves. Helmer, the doctor you love to hate! I think I have yet to see a more self-absorbed, oblivious, self-righteous character on screen! But, I could overlook a change in actors....I just have to know how it ends!

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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
More fun and games...with the occasional body part, 24 August 2001

Author: Wayne Malin (wwaayynnee51@hotmail.com) from United States

Sequel to "The Kingdom" is bloodier and even more twisted. I only saw half (I was exhausted and couldn't sit through all 5 1/2 hours) but I loved what I saw. Ghosts, blood, murder, poisoning, mutated babies, voodoo...this has it all! If you have a strong stomach and like weird movies this is for you.

Also, you don't have to see Part 1 to understand this...you'll figure it out!

Does anyone know if Kingdom 1 and 2 are available on DVD? Sitting through these marathon movies in a theatre is tiring.

Sadly, there probably won't be a "Kingdom 3"--Ernst-Hugo Jaregard (Sig) died a year after this was filmed. But you never know!

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
A great work of darkly-comic TV horror, mystery and suspense, 20 May 2008
Author: Graham Greene from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

At the time of seeing both the first series of The Kingdom (1994) and then later the second series (1997) the only films of Lars von Trier that I was familiar with were Breaking the Waves (1996) and Dancer in the Dark (2000). Certainly, I would rate both of these particular films incredibly well, however, after having seen some of von Trier's other films - such as his earlier, self-referential masterworks The Element of Crime (1984) and Europa (1991), and his more confrontational films The Idiots (1997) and Dogville (2003) - I can begin to better appreciate the context of which The Kingdom fits into his career as a whole.

Really, The Kingdom is a transitional work between the visually elaborate and enigmatic films that made up the bulk of his work from 1983-1991, and the second, more celebrated phase of his career that saw the drafting of the Dogme 95 manifesto and the more minimal, forward thinking films of the last ten years. On the one hand, The Kingdom shows the early influence of Dogme with the use of hand-held cinematography and multi-camera cross-cutting, as well as the use of actual locations and the more naturalistic elements of the performances. Nevertheless, at the same time it brings to mind ideas familiar from The Element of Crime and the earlier self-reflexive, meta-textual horror/satire of Epidemic (1988), with the references to ghosts, death and an all encompassing, age-old evil. However, unlike any of his work for cinema - which often has a broader intent and more rigid sense of experimentation - The Kingdom is meant, first and foremost, as a work of pure entertainment. There's none of the more obvious sense of cinematic experimentation, polemic or emotional manipulation used so skilfully in his feature-length work, with the story instead relying on great characters, moments of absurd or entirely deadpan humour, and a continual sense of mystery and suspense.

The Kingdom II picks up where the first series left off, and yes, it is vital that you see the first series before embarking on the second or you'll have no idea what is going on! Basically, it's more of the same, albeit it, much funnier than the first and with more violence. The ghosts - as you should remember from the first series - are now free to take a greater precedence over the plot, as Mrs Drusse fights her own illness, teetering on the brink of life and death but still trying to discover the secrets of the hospital. Elsewhere, von Trier regular, the late Ernst-Hugo Järegård, returns as the malevolent Dr Helmer, who becomes even more of a central figure to the proceedings as Dr. Moesgaard is forced into therapy. The real treasure of the cast however is Udo Kier, who not only returns as the evil Aage Krüger, but also as Little Brother, Judith's deformed baby, and spiritual brother to the tormented Mary Jenson.

Because at least three of the principal actors have died since the completion of the second series, the question is; will there ever be an end? The last episode ends, much like the final episode to the first series, with a cliff-hanger. Lars' intention was that there would be a third series, making the Kingdom an effective trilogy. However, the plan has no doubt been scrapped given the loss of lead performers. Although neither instalment of the series offers any kind of ultimate closure, they still offer a great deal of entertainment; with the bold and atmospheric direction of von Trier and his assistant Morten Arnfred creating tension, terror and an eerie atmosphere that complements the dark aspects of the series perfectly.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Lars, hurry with Part 3!, 9 July 1999
Author: John Seal from Oakland CA

This terrific sequel to The Kingdom maintains and develops all the bizarre subplots of the first series. The acting is uniformly excellent and Von Trier continues to surprise and confound the viewer. You'll be howling for more as the Falcon takes his final flight...or is it???

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Wow............, 1 September 2002
Author: Erin

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

* Spoilers *

When I first started watching the first Kingdom, I was like "Ok, what's the big deal!?" It actually took me a few days to get to a point where I started liking it... then, it was just weird, it was addicting. So, I tracked down part 2, and man....

That's one of the best movies I've ever seen!!!!

Udo Kier is...... I can't even put it into words!!!! Little Brother!!!! He's had some bizarre roles, but this is just WHEWWWWW lol. I actually found myself crying when he was on... it was just so sad... especially when she cut him from his frame... That was just... heartbreaking! Awww.... It was nice to see him as Aage too.... He looked REALLY good in this one... really really good, especially when he was chasing her around the halls...

The end, really really just left me stunned. Because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENES!!!!!!!!!! But like others have said, some of the main cast members are dead!!! And they are just so original.. I know it would be so hard to replace them. THIS SUCKS! I can't believe this happened....

And the dishwashers are engaged! awwwwww lol Damn.........

The original characters can never be replaced... certainly not Helmer, but he should try and get some lookalikes... I have to know what happens!!!

11/10

For Little Brother!

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
A Mind Blowing Experience, 30 November 2002
Author: richard winters (rwint) from Chicago, Illinois

If a movie is good you can usually say it was entertaining, moving, exciting, or even thought provoking. Yet it is a rarity to say that it was actually a experience. Watching THE KINGDOM series is a genuine experience. There is simply nothing else like it and it defies any category. It's part comedy, sci-fi, thriller, mystery,drama, cult, soap opera, and even character study. The result is absolutely amazing. After watching nearly six straight hours the only thing you want afterwards is to see more. It just never gets boring and it's almost hypnotic in nature.

The basic premise has the largest hospital in Copenhagen built over a ghost cemetery. So you have paranormal activity constantly going on, yet only a old lady patient and some mentally handicapped dishwashers are aware of it. The rest of the cast consists basically of doctors and administrators who are so self involved and filled with so many idiosyncraces that they are oblivious to everything else. The stories than revolve around the shenanigans of the hospital and the paranormal activity. You then have about four or five storylines running together at any one time. They are all interwoven and sharply paced. They extend the entire creative spectrum. You are constantly being intrigued as to where they are going and how they will end up. They are impossible to predict and many times genuinly surprising. This is a evolving creative project, which is why it is so good. There are simply no boundaries here and the resulting possibilities are endless.

Eventually by the end of Part 2 one does get the idea that this thing is evolving for the sake of evolving and there really is no conclusion. The bitingly absurd humor becomes just plain absurd also. Yet it is still captivating enough and the storylines strong enough to make you want to continue with Part 3 if and when that ever comes out.

The characters are all lovably goofy. They all have their many flaws and discrepancies yet they are never boring or obnoxious. The standout is probably Swedish Dr Heimler whose pompous ways and contempt for Denmark are consistently amusing.

The strange bleached out color and constantly moving camera maybe off putting to some at first, but eventually it fits with the films personality and is no longer a distraction.

The film also contains some of the most unusual and lasting images you will ever see. Dr Heimler's electronic car he uses while his Volvo is in the shop for repairs is one. Professor Moosegard's erotic collection is another. Yet the strangest, most bizarre one has to be the monster baby born to one of the nurses. It is without a doubt one of the most grotesque, damndest sights ever to be put onto film.

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Weirdness Continues in Sequel, 22 March 2001
Author: marquis de cinema from Boston, MA

Riget 2/The Kingdom 2(1997) begins at the point where the first film ended. This deals with the occult and the evil doings of a satanic cult at the hospital. More gory and outragious than The Kingdom(1995). Stig Helmer has returned from his trip in order to turn the Larry Bird look alike doctor into a zombie. The main protagonist finds out that a member of the staff is involved with a satanic cult.

Udo Kier has a more substancial role in this film is the forms of good and evil. There are new characters introduced as well as minor characters from the first film who get a bigger part here. The director uses a sepia color that turns the film into one beautiful image. The Kingdom Part 2(1997) was the one of the first films to use the rules of Dogma95. Ernst-Hugo Jaregard is again magificent as the arrogant and cold hearted Dr. Stig Helmer.

I was shocked when it was revealed who was the person involved in the satantic cult. It was someone that no one would have guessed or expected. Riget 2 reminds me alot of Re-Animator(1985) especially with the evil head. A satirical look into the ideas of science and the supernatural. Udo Kier is fantastic in the dual role of good and evil.

One good part from Riget 2(1997) is the hospital car that everyone bets on. Stellan Skarsgard has a small but pivotal role as the ruthless lawyer of Dr. Helmer. The scenes where Dr. Helmer attempts to put poison in the coffee of a fellow doctor is humorous. Sadly, the actor who played Dr. Helmer died right after the release of The Kingdom Part 2(1997), thus making it difficult to have a Riget Part 3. Riget 2(1997) finishes with a cliff hanger ending that set things up for the story of Riget 3/The Kingdom Part 3.

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4 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Hungry for More, 30 March 2004
Author: (uncaricky) from Santa Monica, CA

I have just finished watching Kingdom I and Kingdom II from the Independent Film Channel. It left off with too many things left unresolved. I have not seen the Stephen King version as yet (I'm waiting for the 1st season and/or complete series depending on renewal) and I wanted to catch up on the characters.

I found it odd that Hook from Kingdom is Kroj in Kingdom II unless Kroj is Danish for Hook. The reveal of the agent of Satan was a surprise. One would like to think that this agent and the Satanists are found out and put down. It is ironic that Christian endangers Sanne and Mogge by trying to impress her. One looks forward to seeing the lying Swede meet the writer whose work he had stolen. The Downs Syndrome Greek chorus works better in subtitled Danish than it does in English I hear.

In other words, despite the 9 hour length of both Kingdoms together, one does get caught up in the karma of its characters. The perverse pavane they dance around each other is fascinating to watch. One would hope that good will be rewarded and evil at least slowed down a bit.

However, it has been several years since Kingdom II and I see no listing of a Kingdom III on the Lars Von Trier horizon. Perhaps the cast cannot be reunited or lacks the urge to do so. Perhaps they are no longer available. If nothing else, maybe it could be done as a graphic novel.

Whatever the case, I highly recommend Kingdoms I & II for former Twin Peaks fans and other lovers of the character driven grotesque allegories. However, be prepared to be left hanging and hungry for more.

Let there be a Kingdom III. Let there be a Kingdom I & II on DVD in the USA.

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4 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Death, demons and Danes, 26 April 1999
Author: teje from Stockholm, Sweded

I had seen Riket, part one, some years ago and wasn't disappointed by the sequel, even though it was, if possible, even more twisted and gory. The hospital setting is familiar to all of us. We've seen General Hospital or E.R. There is something about hospitals that appeal to us: life and death, everyday drama and doctors with fate in their hands. And we all love a good ghost story. And together the two, hospitals and ghosts, become a terrific combination. It scares the hell out the viewer -but in the nice kind of way. Because deep down we know that it's all make believe. Von Trier has made a full blown "Dogma-95" (no special effects, no lights, everything is tinted yellow and the handy cam seems to be managed by someone having an epileptic fit) and that way it all becomes even more scary. There is also the conflict between the Swedish doctor who's (wants to be) efficient and rational and the lazy, beer guzzling Danish orderlies and confused doctors. They are caricatures that we love to see, at least us Swedes and Danish. So if you can, rent the video and turn out the lights, arm yourself with a pillow to hide behind when it gets too scary and enjoy!

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A must-see for anyone who enjoyed the first, 27 June 2006

Author: Grann-Bach (Grann-Bach@jubii.dk) from Denmark

Wow... 5 more hours of Riget. Lars continues the great combination of occult, dark horror and soap-opera drama. Picking up exactly where the last episode of the previous series left off(complete with the same high intensity and suspense, though that doesn't last; for better or worse), this installation in the franchise seems somewhat more bent on haste... in the last series, there seemed to pass a day or a week between each episode, whereas in this, it clearly is one long stretch... where one episode ends, the next begins. A lot can be said about Lars von Trier... but he is very diverse and pretty eccentric. Both qualities show in this. The plot continues its excellence, now giving a few regular characters that were minor players in the previous four episodes more attention. Basically every character from the first returns, at least as far as the main roles go. The pacing isn't as sharp as in the first part, and I found myself less gripped by this one. That is not in any kind of way to say that this didn't involve me, though... I still found myself constantly watching, and at several points reacting strongly, often out loud, to what was going on(extremely unusual behavior for me, as I am an incredibly silent person), as I also was during the first. Like the first, this also brings up some loaded ethical questions. Building on the foundation from the first, this brings the story further... and being a sequel, the scope is also bigger. Grander. More spirits, more bizarre occurrences, more subplots. The strong graphic material of the first also returns, and it's been kicked up a notch. The characters are developed further. The acting is amazing, as that of the first. Udo Kier solidifies his immense talent, to anyone who doubted it. Playing a very difficult character(anyone who has seen the first series can most likely figure out what I mean) *and* acting in a language he didn't speak(he was later dubbed)... and still handing in such a strong performance. The cinematography remains great, and is still very hand-held, with rapid zooms and the occasional long take. The editing is sharp, with a few direct cuts in sound(though these were more prominent in the first). Now, with all that said, I would really like to be able to rate this a perfect 10... or at least just under, like the first four episodes. I truly enjoyed watching, and I don't regret it in the least. But this does have shortcomings... the ones the first part had and more. As the first, the humor just takes up too much space... and this time around, it's even worse. There are several new regular characters that are there for no other reason than to provide comic relief... three of them, no less. Scenes are set up and executed for no other reason than to make the audience laugh. Fine for a comedy, but what is it doing in such a dark and unpleasant, yes, nothing short of sadistic at times, horror piece? Helmer's solitary secret hiding place of solitude is changed from the hospital roof... from which he could see his beloved Sweden... to a bathroom. With an angle from inside the bowl. No, you read that right. In general, the humor seems more low-brow... more sex and bodily function jokes, which, again, begs the question "Why?". Whilst most of the writing is excellent, some of it is downright dire. Several scenes are basically copied from the first mini-series(one would guess due to their popularity when it aired). At times, the drama seems a bit more bombastic than that of the first, and it jumps too much at times. Fortunately seldom, but still noticeably, plot points and items are explained away too easily(a certain character living in Denmark for no apparent reason, for example... anyone who's seen it knows who I'm speaking of). The two dishwashers, while still mysterious and insightful, become too much of a gimmick... too overexposed, in the end, I guess. Most of the scenes with them are still enjoyable, though. In addition to that, I want to reassure any reader of this that in spite of all the negative things I have just written that this is still mostly good... definitely enjoyable, compelling, powerful... and in my humble opinion, it should definitely be seen by anyone who liked the first(though if belong in that group; do not expect to feel that the story is finished after watching this any more than you did after the first). I recommend this to any fan of Lars von Trier and anyone who enjoyed the first Riget and wants more where that came from. I urge anyone who's even considering watching this to make sure you've seen all of the first before you do... I bought this before I bought the first, but I held out on watching until I had bought the first and watched that, and I can't tell you how glad I am that I did. Though this features a brief summary of the events in the first, there are an immense amount of details and aspects that you would miss out on if you didn't see it before watching this. Slightly lesser sequel, but definitely still one to watch if you liked the first. 8/10

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