Stuart Gordon, considered a master of the horror genre thanks to classics like ReAnimator and Dagon, decides to do a different move in this strange trip to human morals
quotKing of the Antsquot is about a regular guy, Sean Crawleynewcomer Chris McKenna, a man without any aspiration who just live in his apartment doing the necessary job to live to the next day In one of his jobs he meets DukeGearge Wendt, who introduces Sean to his boss, Ray Matthewsplayed by Daniel Baldwin Ray hires Sean as a spy, and orders him to follow Eric GatlinRoy Livingstone, an accountant who has been investigating Ray#39s company Problems start when Ray, while drunk, orders Sean to kill Eric And he does it Things go wrong when Ray decides to make Sean disappear destroying his mind with violent punishment and humiliation
From the point where Sean kills Eric, we go in the same boat with him, as he goes through a downward spiral of human degradation, traveling from guilt, to confusion and finally to his rebirth, in a state where humanity, morals and values are not important anymore Chris McKenna acting is very important because he manages to be likable even when he is part of gruesome acts, both as victim and/or criminal He has that look of innocence that hides a dark side and he manages to carry the film
The support cast also includes Kari Wuhrer, as Eric#39s widow who also becomes a central part of Sean#39s trip to hell She gives a fine performance, although it#39s obvious that Sean is the main character He is the most developed of all and McKenna#39s performance is up to the challenge
The film has very disturbing images of violence, and while it may not be as graphic as quotKill Billquot for exle, the strength of the violence is in the lack of humanity that the character manifest He is more than an ant in this world He is the king
Stuart Gordon has managed to create a film that, while maybe it#39s not one of his best efforts it#39s very well done, has a VERY interesting story to tell, and manages to capture the attention every second of it
