Review of King of Devil's Island (2010) by Mike V — 09 Jan 2012

Despite the horrible conditions that the boys in this story experienced, this was not simply a one-note downer of a movie. I found myself caught up in the evolving relationships between the characters.

We never know what crime Erling had committed that brought him to this island (although a rumor suggests that he had killed someone, this rumor is never substantiated)--and somehow it makes sense that this is never resolved.

As he upsets the established order from the very moment of his arrival, he acts as a catalyst who challenges his fellow inmates, especially C1 who had carefully constructed an exit strategy for leaving that hellhole by rising to the top of the pecking order and implementing the Governor's authority.

The series of events that proceed one after another, leading to the film's climax, never seem forced. A very well made and interesting movie.