"King Saud is the rarest of pure indie films, written and directed in a retro L.A. Noir style . . . . a pastiche of styles from West Coast Noir films. There are influences from To Live and Die in L.A., L.A. Confidential, Chinatown, and even as far back as The Maltese Falcon, to name just a few."
7/10
Bradley Gibson
"King Saud feels like a film from yesteryear while distinctly being a film from now . . . . took balls to make, as it is a film that could definitely ruffle some feathers.
King Saud is a gritty twist filled crime drama with interesting characters, great performances, a shocking ending and more than its fair share of excellent dialogue."
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Charlie Michael Cargill
https://medium.com/@charliemichaelcargile/king-saud-9e115ffe7fbb
"A new independent neo-noir murder mystery that combines classic mystery elements with social commentary.
If you enjoy a dark, gritty slower burn murder mystery you will enjoy King Saud. The larger statements the director makes about politics and people are woven into an interesting story. The performances really drive this story to a satisfying ending."
3.5 out of 4
https://www.specialmarkproductions.com/reviews/review-king-saud-2024
"Kate Orsini and Mark Toma have wonderful chemistry as seemingly mismatched partners with more in common as the film goes on. Solidly written characters that could have veered into cliché but rarely misstep. As a director, Mark Toma isn’t afraid to let a scene linger for lasting impact as you care about what happens to both Lynch and Wolfe.
A scene stealing Michael Saad owns all his scenes as the Prince’s butler Al Mahir. Every line Saad delivers is both playful and sinister and even though think you might have a beat as to where the character is going, you’re very rarely correct.
A compelling mystery, worth a watch."
3 Stars
Noel Penaflor
https://discover.hubpages.com/entertainment/king-saud-2024-movie-review
"King Saud harks back to classic detective noir with a blend of international intrigue and murder mystery.
Mark Toma delivers a commendable performance as Det. Wolfe. Kate Orsini truly shines. Mike Saad also deserves special mention for his compelling portrayal of Al Mahir, bringing complexity and excellence to his role.
King Saud weaves an engaging story that should keep viewers guessing until the final scene, with the plot falling into place in an entertaining manner. Worth a watch."
B.E. Ladd
https://www.tumblr.com/fantastica-daily/758259967204655104/king-saud-movie-review?source=share
"King Saud is a compelling international murder mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish. The strong performances from the leads, particularly Kate Orsini as Det. Lynch, brought a lot of depth to this story. Mark Toma, who juggles roles as writer, director, producer and star , still manages to create something truly intriguing and watchable. The haunting flugelhorn score contrasts well with the corrupt Middle Eastern royalty and their oppressed minions, while the depiction of corruption within the LAPD adds another layer of realism. The story navigates a web of morality, showcasing good and bad on both sides, which leads to an ambiguous but satisfying conclusion. Overall, I found King Saud to be a gripping film with a moody atmosphere and affecting love story between the detectives. It's definitely worth a watch."
RECOMMENDED!
Rela Blue Jones
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1331470-king-saud?language-en-US