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Amazon.co.uk Review
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
DVD 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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 24 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.
4 of 4 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.
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Don't compare
I thoroughly enjoyed this show when I first saw it and feel that it is a great piece of television in its own right. However. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. G. Clark
Possibly the best US TV show ever.
OK, it's a big claim, but I think a justifiable one. Most American TV shows are, and always have been, incredibly formulaic. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Greywolf
kingdom hospital
A fantastic price of a very good box set. Stephen King's adaptation is very good and it's a very dark and yet comical story that works well in this American version. Read more
Published on 20 May 2010 by Dt Richards
FANTASTIC
Had to watch this from start to finish without stopping! Excellent viewing! Another great Stephen King title!
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by Mrs. Yt Williams
Kingdom Hospital
This was a great series on TV so when I saw this set whilst browsing I just had to get it. Now that the evenings are drawing in this is a good series to watch curled up on the sofa... Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2009 by Regina E. Clarke
great series
enjoyed this so much - loved the series and is fantastic to be able to watch it again! arrived really quickly
Published on 20 July 2009 by Lesley P. Cartwright
An excellent purchase
I bought this for my wife who is an addict for horror films
She is watching it again for the 3rd time and my teenage daughter has become like her mum and has taken to running... Read more
She is watching it again for the 3rd time and my teenage daughter has become like her mum and has taken to running... Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2009 by G. Postello
Surreal & spooky drama
Strange things are happening over at the Kingdom Hospital. Ghosts, brain surgeons and a giant ant eater star in this weird and wonderful series. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2008 by K. Roycroft
This ISN'T Stephen King !
This is a re-hash of Lars Von Triers' excellent "The Kingdom" (Riget) - it merely has the title "Stephen King Presents" in order to mislead... Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2008 by Tim Spencer
surreal and witty king at best
king is at home with film and tv, he as much a film maker as a writer. kingdom hospital was a personal project adapted from 'the kingdom' which inspired him to vent his car... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2008 by miss ratty
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