The King (2006)

56% of critics liked it
(77 reviews)
49% of users liked it
(39,302 ratings)

This family-oriented animated special travels into the Old Testament to recreate the events that befell King David and King Saul. When Saul grows insanely jealous of David's popularity, he unleashes his vengeance against David to drive him from the royal throne. But God has other plans in mind, as… More This family-oriented animated special travels into the Old Testament to recreate the events that befell King David and King Saul. When Saul grows insanely jealous of David's popularity, he unleashes his vengeance against David to drive him from the royal throne. But God has other plans in mind, as foretold in a prophecy by Samuel - plans that foretell David leading an army of men against Saul and winning back his title as King of Israel. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 17 min.
Directed By: James Marsh
Written By: James Marsh, Milo Addica
Genres: Drama, Animation, Kids & Family

In Theaters: May 19, 2006 Limited
On DVD: Oct 10, 2006
Studio: ThinkFilm

Critic Reviews

Michael Booth, Denver Post
A showcase for big ideas that winds up feeling empty.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Chilling and compelling.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
It is an intelligent, disturbing thriller.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
A deeply involving film where intentions are as cryptic as the title, and the reckoning of past sins opens fresh wounds.
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
The web gets more tangled until, midway through, the drama drops and the film becomes yet another bloody horror show.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Even if the filmmakers are to be distrusted as slumming ethnological tourists, they treat the message of religious fundamentalism seriously.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
The degree to which this film is unsettling is testimony to the strength of the acting and direction.
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
Red States' worst nightmare rules on screen.
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
Good work that, with a little more effort, could have been so much better.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
This movie creeped me out big time.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An undemanding morality tale set in the Bible Belt.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
The filmmakers' stoicism finally proves insurmountable and indefatigable
Peter T. Chattaway, Christianity Today
I'm all in favor of warts-and-all depictions of Christians, but the closer you look, the more you realize that warts are all this film has to offer.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
A Southwestern American pastoral of dormant menace, The King is a film of triple-dipped mood that turns on an act of shocking violence, but still seems to substitute willful indistinctness for insight.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
"The King" actually moves you, particularly because it has outstanding actors like William Hurt and Gael Garcia Bernal giving haunting, complex performances.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
This film wastes the talents of the entire cast.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Programmed by the fatalistic filmmakers toward a cruel outcome, but the actors make it convincing...
Michele Kenner, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Both Hurt and Bernal drift through their performances, leaving the audience as unfulfilled as an empty collection plate.
Brian Clark, Austin Chronicle
The many possible ways to read the film might be more fruitful if Marsh's direction was more assured.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

Somehow against all odds The King is dark yet somehow fulfilling. Bernal is terrific in a role where he hides who he really is. His actions seem to come off with no malicious intent despite the obvious destruction they could cause. It makes for an extremely creepy and twisted… More
Somehow against all odds The King is dark yet somehow fulfilling. Bernal is terrific in a role where he hides who he really is. His actions seem to come off with no malicious intent despite the obvious destruction they could cause. It makes for an extremely creepy and twisted protagonist. This isn't someone who lurks in the shadows or gives you the evil eye from a distance, no twiddling of mustaches either. The revenge aspect is handled brilliantly to the point where it doesn't feel like a revenge film. It starts off with very gritty hand held camera work but as the film progresses to a more suburban local the camera settles and bright greens make it look like a pleasant world. This is also the time that religious aspects enter the film. Hurt has created an eden and left his past sins behind him but Bernal is a snake. The final integration of the King into the family environment is heartbreaking on all accounts as the metaphorical wrecking ball is just off in the distance. It's excellent stuff and crafted with care and passion without ever being heavy handed or inaccessible.
Kylie B

Interesting, but the dialogue seems somewhat clunky in places to me. Perhaps that's due to the upbringing of the characters, but I'm not sure. The cinematography and music are beautiful, but I don't think I like the film. It's a good film, I just don't engage… More
Interesting, but the dialogue seems somewhat clunky in places to me. Perhaps that's due to the upbringing of the characters, but I'm not sure. The cinematography and music are beautiful, but I don't think I like the film. It's a good film, I just don't engage with it very well. Still, what a way to conduct revenge.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "The King", Elvis(Gael Garcia Bernal) has just been released from the navy and is heading home. Home in this case is Corpus Christi, Texas where his illegitimate father, David Sandow(William Hurt), is now a very successful preacher, married with a… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "The King", Elvis(Gael Garcia Bernal) has just been released from the navy and is heading home. Home in this case is Corpus Christi, Texas where his illegitimate father, David Sandow(William Hurt), is now a very successful preacher, married with a family of his own. His son, Paul(Paul Dano), is about to graduate high school and has been accepted at Baylor University, but not before trying to persuade his high school to teach intelligent design. His daughter, Malerie(Pell James), is a couple of years younger than Paul. David refuses to have anything to do with Elvis and does not tell his family about him. This does not stop Elvis from actively pursuing Malerie...[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The King" is a good movie which is reminiscient of the morally ambiguous movies that Francois Ozon and Michael Haneke have made. It is unclear what Elvis' motives are or what he hopes to gain but it is clear that he does throw a wrench into David's carefully cultivated life. David is not a hypocrite but somebody who truly believes in God.(He distances himself from Elvis because he views him just as the result of a past indiscretion. Whether or not there is anything racist in his attitude is another question.) He does follow a stereotypical conservative behavior pattern in driving an SVU and hunting with his son while his daughter cooks and cleans. But in this film, Texas is pictured as being much more secular than its stereotype. [/font]
Daniel P

Some spoilers ahead. Constantly testing the limits of plausibility, The King largely succeeds due to the strength of the acting and subtle, low-key direction. Gael Garcia Bernal shows exceptionally little emotion - he is cold and vicious, although it's… More
Some spoilers ahead. Constantly testing the limits of plausibility, The King largely succeeds due to the strength of the acting and subtle, low-key direction. Gael Garcia Bernal shows exceptionally little emotion - he is cold and vicious, although it's hard to know if he's being deliberately calculating, or if he's just unhinged, or (most probably) a combination. Pell James is especially brilliant in the most difficult to believe role. Her reaction when Elvis tells her about Paul is so convincingly played that it's almost possible to overlook how much it actually stretches credibility. The very difficult to watch sermon at the end of the film demonstrates Pell James' skill with body language and emotion as we see her gradually realise the full extent of the truth. William Hurt also puts in a typically layered performance. In truth, this film is so melodramatic in content that it would be impossible to take seriously were it not so understatedly played and filmed. A very interesting film. "We're going to hell."
Marcus W

"from the writer of Monsters Ball" - and it shows, that guy could really do with taking a holiday, watching cartoons, getting laid, anything to cheer him up. This film is pretty damn bleak and seems determined to be that way. It's not a total loss though as there's… More
"from the writer of Monsters Ball" - and it shows, that guy could really do with taking a holiday, watching cartoons, getting laid, anything to cheer him up. This film is pretty damn bleak and seems determined to be that way. It's not a total loss though as there's some wonderful acting from William Hurt and Benal, the problem lies with a severe lack of characterisation on Benal's part which makes his actions seem odd. Just another ten minutes to explain his background, that's all it needs.
Dimitris S

The King is dead.Pronounce the actual king.Elvis...isn't it ironic?Whether it's fiction or not,the protagonist is a punisher,a living avenging machine.Bernal is vicious under his cold expression and despite some straightforward situations after 45 minutes,it'll give you… More
The King is dead.Pronounce the actual king.Elvis...isn't it ironic?Whether it's fiction or not,the protagonist is a punisher,a living avenging machine.Bernal is vicious under his cold expression and despite some straightforward situations after 45 minutes,it'll give you a specific thought against religious intolerance towards the end.Great film but no masterpiece.
Leo L

Great!
Sarah P

The plotline is outrageous but somehow believable and it makes for a slightly unpredictable thrilling drama