Kingdom
2019
Original language: Korean
- drama
- mystery
The story
In this zombie thriller set in Korea's medieval Joseon dynasty which has been defeated by corruption and famine, a mysterious rumor of the king’s death spreads, as does a strange plague that renders the infected immune to death and hungry for flesh. The crown prince, fallen victim to a conspiracy, sets out on a journey to unveil the evil scheme and save his people.
What it’s like
Dim, smoky interiors lit by lantern and torch, with hard flame-orange glow against deep indigo night, and wide, bleak shots of frost-grey mountain passes and rice paddies gone to mud. The palette is muted and earthy, broken by sudden blood-red and the cold white of moonlit snow, and the camera stays steady and composed, letting the wooden halls of the palace and the crowded, filthy villages sit in frame long enough to feel their weight. Action arrives in kinetic bursts of handheld chaos before settling back into quiet. The score is largely taiko drums, low strings and haunting traditional vocals, with long stretches of wind and crackling fire. Vibe: austere, rain-soaked dread with bursts of adrenaline. It suits a dark evening alone, a binge across several nights, or a stormy weekend. Violence is frequent and graphic: zombie attacks bring gore, biting and bloody impalement, and sustained dread about starvation, cruelty and political betrayal. This is not gentle viewing. It suits people who want period intrigue braided with horror, a royal-court power struggle that turns into survival, and a young prince who must become someone his people can follow.
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