Why a Danish hospital horror series became a cult classic and inspired Stephen King
In short: Set in the neurosurgical ward of Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet, Lars von Trier's absurdist horror series The Kingdom blends supernatural phenomena with biting humor. Its unique sepia-toned aesthetic and surreal plotlines—including a chorus of dishwashers—left such an impression that Stephen King adapted it for American television after discovering it in a video store.
Created by Lars von Trier and Tómas Gislason, The Kingdom (Riget) debuted in 1994. The series follows the eccentric staff and patients of Rigshospitalet, a hospital built atop ancient bleaching ponds. The narrative is defined by its eerie, supernatural occurrences, such as a ghostly ambulance and a pathologist who transplants a cancerous liver into his own body to claim it as a trophy. Central to the show's identity is its wry humor and a recurring chorus of dishwashers with Down syndrome who provide commentary on the hospital's bizarre events.
The series evolved over three decades. After the first two seasons aired in 1994 and 1997, a final five-episode installment titled Exodus premiered in 2022. During the production of Exodus, von Trier worked while managing Parkinson's disease, focusing the narrative on character development rather than strictly adhering to the lore of the original seasons. The series has been widely recognized for its influence, with von Trier citing David Lynch's Twin Peaks as a primary inspiration, while the show itself earned a place in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
Stephen King’s fascination with the series led to the 2004 American adaptation, Kingdom Hospital. King secured the rights by trading the option for his novella Secret Window, Secret Garden to Columbia Pictures. While the American version mirrored many of the original's plot beats and character archetypes, it introduced unique elements like a giant anteater spirit guide and a protagonist inspired by King’s own real-life accident. Despite these creative shifts, the American adaptation struggled with ratings and was canceled after a single season, leaving the original Danish production as the definitive, enduring vision of the hospital's strange realm.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Kingdom (miniseries)
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