Review of King of Devil's Island (2010) by Abdulmalik A — 01 Mar 2014

Gripping and tragic movie (more so because its based on real events) surrounding the infamous Bastøy Boys Home correctional facility in Norway in 1915 and the violent uprising led in part by 17 year old Erling. I spent the entire movie feeling cold, exhausted and hungry, the wintery isolation almost becomes a character in itself here. Why didn't anyone ever wear a jacket? Was that part of the punishment? Great performances from everyone, although for some reason I'd been expecting more brutality from Stellan Skarsgard maybe because he always looks so angry and mean. The real problem here was the dorm master! In the end I was left wondering how much of this story is true and slightly confused by the bittersweet flash-forward at the end, how many years later was that? Was he a whaling captain? A little vague 02.15.14.

"A troubled 17 year old leads a violent uprising in Norway's notorious Bastoy Boys Home correctional facility after suffering relentless abuse at the hands of the institutions rigid governor.".