King of Devil's Island

The Northern history is often a very interesting topic... well, practically always... and so Norwegian creators, along with a whole host of European sponsors, decided to shoot a very interesting story that took place at the beginning of World War I in a penitentiary on the island of Bastøy in Norway. The story flows absolutely smoothly and Stellan Skarsgård holds the whole penitentiary together with his fantastic acting performance. And I must admit that I couldn't get bored with the whole movie thanks to him. He played the institution's leader simply brilliantly and his respect could be felt through those boys all the way to me in my room. Add to that the beautiful Nordic scenery, excellent music, and it's set for a solid five stars, which this film definitely deserves. (07/05/2012)

The film is set in 1915 on a deserted island in Norway, home to a reformatory for juvenile delinquents. The institute is run by the sadistic hand of Stellan Skarsgård, who gives an amazing performance. The Scandinavians at its best with its no-holds-barred atmosphere, excellent performances, a gritty to uncomfortable setting with plenty of tension and a ruthless ending. Very good. 80% (03/05/2019)

The Norwegian version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was really enjoyable except for a few weaker moments. Stellan Skarsgard was great as usual, and the creators provided a perfectly grim atmosphere. I just couldn’t empathize with any of the main characters. Sure, the caregivers shouldn't get intimate with their wards because it's unhygienic, but I do think that in our prisons, the guards should sometimes stand on an inmate's fingers instead of just changing games in their PS 4. (23/10/2019)