In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

Ah, there’s something about “In the Name of the King” that takes me back to a long, rainy afternoon in Stockholm. Picture this: a cozy cinema with those red velvety seats—sort of like cosying up with a pair of old wool mittens you’ve had since you were a kid. But really comfy. I was with a group of mates, and we all had way too big bags of popcorn (seriously, size of a small dog) when we thought this movie would be a fun take.

Directed by Uwe Boll, who’s famously known for his love affair with adapting video games—some might say he’s a bit of a wildcard—it’s intriguing to see how he fired off with this one. Now, when you add in Jason Statham being all tough in a medieval get-up, there’s bound to be some excitement. Statham’s playing a farmer called Farmer… well, makes you wonder if the script ran out of creativity or if they’re joking with us, right?

And chats about the cast aren’t complete without a nod to Ray Liotta doing his smarmy villain bit or Burt Reynolds as a king with an expression that suggests he’s pondering if he left the oven on at home. In Sweden, we’d say they “gör sitt bästa.”

I’d argue the film is a bit like a smorgasbord. Plenty to taste—action, drama, some fantasy magic—but sometimes you hit a pickled herring when you’re expecting meatballs. It drags in spots, like a Swedish winter night that just won’t end.

If you’re a sucker for fantasy or enjoy a good B-movie laugh with some mates, it’s worth a peek. Just don’t go expecting a “Lord of the Rings” experience. Maybe get some cinnamon buns, they make everything better.

Check the trailer below