As the sky rains fire, and the world as we know it begins to come to an end, one man must find solace in the life that he has created. While all of humanity attempts to navigate this new, unfamiliar land, all that we know and love will come into question. Kingdom Come will cause you to question yourself and your choices. Are you ready to answer for all that you’ve done?
Kingdom Come reminds me so much of Red Dawn–which I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve only seen the 2012 remake and not the original. Like Red Dawn (both renditions), Kingdom Come explores the existential and moral dilemmas of the end of the world as we know it, but it also explores humanity and the basics of life. Kingdom Come remains in tone with that classic film throughout its entirety, and if you’re a fan of war films like Red Dawn, you’re sure to like this.
The film as a whole feels dull, slow, and even a tad boring. I don’t think this is unintentional, and those adjectives aren’t the insults that they may initially appear to be. There is a slow burn of emotion and tragedy present throughout the course of Kingdom Come, and that sentiment allows viewers to see just how realistic the film is. As they are dragged through this story of loss, viewers can feel a sense of urgency buried beneath the surface of the film. This juxtaposition of dullness and urgency represents the difficulties that we face each and every day–how they seem to never end, and how tense and harrowing they can feel. This realism pulls viewers in, allows them to see parts of their lives and themselves within the narrative, and provides them a reason to remain engaged throughout.
It almost feels like an ensemble cast guides the way through Kingdom Come, which is interesting considering the film technically focuses on a central character. The characters bleed into one another, creating a full experience rather than one that feels too specific. The group of actors feeds off of one another for the entirety of the film, and with their expertise this story of insanity and humanity (which can sometimes feel like the same thing) comes to life. The emotion present throughout the film ranges from sadness to complete depression, and the crew exhibits these sentiments with great aplomb–and they should be proud of what they bring to the table.
The entirety of Kingdom Come is simple; and Writer-Director Jason Hess, and Writers Jeff Moffitt and Sy Cody White do a great job of constructing a world that feels real, but dismal in comparison to our reality. The setting and the color and contrast remain in tone with the rest of the film and its narrative. The film and all of its components blend together nicely, and they help to create a fluid and cohesive film. Kingdom Come plays out smoothly, and it flies by–feeling significantly shorter than it actually is.
Directed by Jason Hess.
Written by Jason Hess, Jeff Moffitt, & Sy Cody White.
Starring Dan Berkey, Jeff Moffitt, David Weber, Darren Biss, Steven Komito, Jaiden Kaine, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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