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From Amazon.co.uk
Kingdom Hospital is horror novelist Stephen King’s adaptation of Danish director Lars Von Trier’s cult mini-series The Kingdom, geared very much for an American audience. The story unfolds across 15 hours, telling the story of a hospital in Maine that’s been built on the site of a 19th Century mill fire that killed most of its young occupants--themes that King fans will be familiar with. In the present day, Kingdom Hospital is haunted by the ghost of ten-year-old child labourer Mary and, even more bizarrely, a fearsome giant anteater-like creature called Antubis. It falls to the ace doctor Hook (Andrew McCarthy), the paraplegic artist Jack Coleman (Peter Rickman) and the hypochondriac psychic Sally Druse (Diane Ladd) to enlist the help of a surreal assortment of hospital staff and patients to help Mary and save Kingdom Hospital itself from certain doom.
Fans of Stephen King will probably enjoy the blend of black comedy, spectral horror and general weirdness, which owes a big debt to previous television series like Twin Peaks and even ER. But too often, Kingdom Hospital seems to be trying too hard to make itself into a cult series, something which King is just not a subtle enough writer to carry off. But Kingdom Hospital looks good, especially the CGI Antubis, who steals every scene in which he appears. Generally, though, the series is more of an entertaining experiment than a cult-in-the-making. --Ted Kord
Product Description
Kingdom Hospital is the first television series written and produced by Stephen King, the legendary master of horror. Kingdom Hospital is not like other hospitals--it is built on the wreckage of two horrific fires. The first fire, during the civil war, burned down the Gates Falls Mill, where small children toiled away under nightmarish conditions--nearly all of the long-suffering children were trapped and died in the fire. The second fire destroyed the "old Kingdom," a creepy hospital where an evil doctor performed hideous experiments on patients. The "new Kingdom" is the site of strange, paranormal phenomena, where the unquiet dead still roam. In every episode, over 20 regular and recurring characters check in and out of Kingdom Hospital, playing out the eternal conflict between good and evil.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I found the first couple of episodes completely disorientating: they flash in and out of different scenes, establishing characters and giving you a mix of humour, suspense and surrealism.
But soon you are drawn into the series, and everything makes sense.
The further in you get, the more the storyline takes over.
I can appreciate that some may give up on this series - but don't. It really is a very enjoyable journey into the fictional lives of these characters and, of course, the hospital itself.
But soon you are drawn into the series, and everything makes sense.
The further in you get, the more the storyline takes over.
I can appreciate that some may give up on this series - but don't. It really is a very enjoyable journey into the fictional lives of these characters and, of course, the hospital itself.
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
For a start don't compare this with early Stephen King movies. Many of those are bad. For some reason, where Steve is concerned his great writing has never converted well to film. There are a few exceptions but not many. Whether this is due to bad production or directing, I don't know, but it's a sad fact. This project, however, is completely different.
I haven't seen the original series that this series is based on but I have plans to do so. This is simply wacky. Think Silent Hill. Think ER. Think Twin Peaks. Stir it all together, throw in some wild characters, a wonderful and slightly twisted sense of humour and you have Kingdon Hospital. It might be considered disturbing in a few places but in my house no one found it especially spooky. We did all finish feeling like we'd had a good time. It's hysterical. We didn't expect to laugh so much.
I've given it 4 stars rather than 5 as the last episode seemed a bit rushed, had a slight clip-show feel about it, but don't let that comment put you off. It's great fun! As for comments against Stephen King himself - some reviewers have called him lazy or as good as accused him of stealing the project - can I just point out that Lars Von Trier was approached for permission to adapt this to an English-speaking audience and he was not only delighted, he was also involved. If he's happy then I think everyone else should be too and see no reason it should detract from the original.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I found the first couple of episodes completely disorientating: they flash in and out of different scenes, establishing characters and giving you a mix of humour, suspense and surrealism.
But soon you are drawn into the series, and everything makes sense.
The further in you get, the more the storyline takes over.
I can appreciate that some may give up on this series - but don't. It really is a very enjoyable journey into the fictional lives of these characters and, of course, the hospital itself.
But soon you are drawn into the series, and everything makes sense.
The further in you get, the more the storyline takes over.
I can appreciate that some may give up on this series - but don't. It really is a very enjoyable journey into the fictional lives of these characters and, of course, the hospital itself.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Weird but.....
Weird but just so watchable got hooked! This is nicely multi layered and drags you in, better that a full length film in that despite abiity to record, I WANTED to watch every... Read more
Published 1 hour ago by Ms. S. R. Armstrong
4.0 out of 5 stars
bizarre ER
out there series set in a bizarre hospital
real stephen king stuff
worth a watch if you like your king novels
real stephen king stuff
worth a watch if you like your king novels
Published 21 days ago by wonkeywilly
1.0 out of 5 stars
Awful
This is perhaps one of the most dreadful series I have ever encountered. The characters are lifeless, the "plot" senseless with no sense of drama, tension or fear. Read more
Published 1 month ago by AA
2.0 out of 5 stars
A bit disappointing
I love Stephen King and that's why I bought the series. I liked the setting and the plot, but a couple of episodes seemed to have nothing to do with the story line and ruined the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Hilde Alai
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intrigue and suspense!
I ordered this as watched it on tv some time ago and have just started viewing it. So far it has been just as good as I remembered it being and am thoroughly enjoying it.
Published 2 months ago by JULIE ANNE HARRIS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Was so happy to FINALLY get this!
I first watch Kingdom Hospital when i was a young girl, it was truly magnificent!!!!!! I had been meaning to buy it ever since i stumbled across it on here. Read more
Published 2 months ago by LooPoo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Another product where you have to write a review of something really basic to tell people it does the job because you can't just leave it at 5 stars.
Published 2 months ago by Ian Bibby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Coming from a fan of King & Trier
To get this out of the way, I haven't seen Lars Von Trier's original series 'riget', but I have loved the majority of his films and the artistic aspects he creates in them, which... Read more
Published 3 months ago by connorf95
5.0 out of 5 stars
kingdom hospital
I used to watch this on TV when it first came out but I missed the final episodes so it was great to watch it from the beginning again and see it through to the end
Published 4 months ago by Karen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy
I am very happy with my item and will be buying from again in the future when need be. Thanks
Published 5 months ago by Mr L C L Mace
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