Stephen King Presents - Kingdom Hospital

Starring:Andrew McCarthy, Bruce Davison, Diane Ladd, Brandon Bauer, Jack Coleman (II), Jennifer Cunningham (II), Meagen Fay, Jodelle Ferland, Lena Georgas, Jamie Harrold, Allison Hossack, Suki Kaiser, Sherry Miller, Del Pentecost, Julian Richings
Director: Craig R. Baxley
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Kingdom Hospital is horror novelist Stephen King's adaptation of Danish director Lars Von Trier's cult miniseries 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 10-year-old child worker 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.

Amazon.com

Kingdom Hospital is horror novelist Stephen King's adaptation of Danish director Lars Von Trier's cult miniseries 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 10-year-old child worker 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

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.

Customer Reviews:

Check out the Danish version of this series.......2007-03-22

I watched the Danish version (the title is "Kingdom") first and I love it. The characters, plot, and music are just great! My boyfriend loves the Danish version better, too. Whether you like Stephen King's version or not, if you haven't seen the original series, you should definitely check it out(but the DVD available on Amazon is only the first part). It's more creepy and the music effect is way better.

Quirky good!.......2007-03-10

This DVD set definitely is not for everyone! It is very quirky and you will need to appreciate King's sense of humor to enjoy it. I don't think this mini-series even made it through its entirety on T.V. before being cancelled, but not sure. At any rate, if you are looking for some light-hearted dark humor with talking ant-eaters, bumbling doctors and two Down's Syndrome cuties that just about out-wit the docs, this is the one for you.

One Creepy Story.......2007-02-12

I won't repeat what Kingdom Hospital is about as so many already have addressed it. But, I can tell you how it affected me and my family who watched it.

I find it hard to describe, in words, the overall tone, feeling, and discomfort I feel when I watch this. Most of it takes place at night, or seems to. A good part of my nursing career has been spent working nights, and I tell you that it can be very creepy working nights in a hospital. My husband, a paramedic, concurs. Even worse is when a patient dies and we have to take the body down to the morgue, in the basement. So, when I watch episodes of Kingdom Hospital, they play upon that feeling I already have and magnify it.

You'll find many of the character of KH downright creepy too.

I've also been on the other side of the fence - a patient in my own hospital. I could not help but wonder who and how many patients had died in the room I was in, in the actual bed I occupied. And night time as a patient in a hospital is even more disconcerting. The only times I didn't feel this way was when I had my three children.

As a patient it is common to feel a helplessness. Your whole routine is taken from you. You go from being independent to dependent. And this is conveyed very well in KH. Now add to it being a patient and seeing horrific paranormal activity. Add to the effect you are totally bed bound.

When I received this DVD set, my oldest son who is 15, took an interest in it right away. Before he watched it though, I tried to set up a mood, a tone for him by describing my experience working in a hospital, in a hospital at night - my feelings, fears, etc. I told him what a darkened hospital looks like, feels like. After he watched just two episodes in his bedroom, alone, he came downstairs with an absolute look of terror on his face. He told me to put my hand over his heart. It was pounding. The two episodes had terrified him and he's a long time horror fan and viewer! As scared as he was, he was also addicted to watching the rest of the series. After each viewing he had to share his thoughts and feelings with me. He never ceased to be scared.

In my opinion, Kingdom Hospital is a treat. Relish in it, the horror that Stephen King creates, again, on the screen.

Kingdom Hospital Fascinating and Just Off Beat Enough to Keep Your Interest.......2006-12-03

First this is a Stephen King adaptation of another work of Danish fiction as so many others have already said so I won't go there. This being a Stephen King led adaptation you know he has a certain style all his own that he invested into Kingdom Hospital and you either like it enough to give it a chance or not. Just remember before dismissing it out of hand, Kingdom Hospital is not exactly typical Stephen King fare.

I stumbled on the hacked up all day version of Kingdom Hospital while watching SCI FI Channel during a recent day off. I had always caught bits and pieces of Kingdom Hospital and always found it profoundly eerie, camp and creepy yet funny in ways I feel no words can adequately convey.

Basically a state of the art medical center is built on the site of an old New England sweat shop employing children. Most of these civil war era child workers died after being abandoned by adult overseer's more intent on saving themselves.

Then there was "The Old Kingdom" hospital built on the site of the civil war factory where a mad doctor performed many evil horrid experiments on patients. The Old Kingdom Hospital was replaced by a pretty new chrome and glass state of the art medical center. The New Kingdom Hospital or New Kingdom is beautiful. This nice modern new Kingdom hospital rests on the haunted site rich with restless ghosts, troubled, spirits and a tangled weave of both the psychic and the psychotic goings on.

Kingdom Hospital is not really a horror movie with overt shockingly sick twisted tortured horrid things popping out of the woodwork at every turn as was the case in Stephen King's Rose Red. Kingdom Hospital is amazingly subtle in its slow but steady pace each episode constructing a complex interplay of odd characters and even odder situations. Yes there is the giant anteater like creature Antubis who does some really weird stuff. There is the lost little girl Mary trapped in the New Kingdom who walks the line being at times both frightened and frightening.

The odd ball doctors, patients and others working at New Kingdom Hospital effectively suggest that at the Kingdom Hospital as in real life, the more things change the more they stay the same. Among the doctors of the New Kingdom Hospital you have doctors with the same character flaws and twisted self indulgent, arrogantly self absorbed over inflated egos that ruled the twisted mad doctor(s) of the Old Kingdom Hospital. It is the subtle interplay between good and evil like a devils dance that makes Kingdom Hospital so much a joy to watch. Is Kingdom Hospital one of Stephen Kings better works yes! but only if you allow Kingdom Hospital to be the ode to a quirkish unsettling brand of unease bordering on horror that never crosses the line that it was meant to be in my humble opinion.

Kingdom Hospital stirs the good and evil inside each viewer's brain and allows the plot to develop differently for each individual. Kingdom Hospital is neither Horror nor Thriller. Kingdom Hospital if you allow it becomes something unique in the minds of any viewer to gives it an honest and fair chance. I love Kingdom Hospital so much I brought the whole set because, sometimes I do not want to be horrified, shocked or thrilled sometimes all I want to be is fascinated and that's what Kingdom Hospital does well, it FASCINATES THE MIND IN A PLAYFUL BLACK MACARBE WAYS THAT INTOXICATE THE SOUL!

Kingdom Hospital deserves to be part of your collection because it fascinates the dark portions of your mind in the most unique ways if you allow it to do its work.

I loved it.......2006-12-01

I adore S King and all his works. Kingdom Hospital, is of course, weird, but that's what King excels at. Even the music was perfect. I loved the dance/song thing around the patient in surgery - added greatly to the weirdness. I've re-watched this series now three times; the only episode I ignore is the one about the baseball player. The anteater was a fabulous bit of special effects.

Stephen King Presents Kingdom Hospital - The Beginning

Average customer rating:

TWIN SPOOKS
Buy the full series
DONT BUY THIS!!!
Just checked in to the Hospital

Stephen King Presents Kingdom Hospital - The Beginning
Starring: Andrew McCarthy , Bruce Davison , Diane Ladd , Brandon Bauer , and Jack Coleman (II)
Director: Craig R. Baxley
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Stephen King presents Kingdom Hospital - Making the Rounds
Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital: Post Mortem
Stephen King Presents - Kingdom Hospital
Stephen King's Desperation
Nightmares & Dreamscapes - From the Stories of Stephen King

ASIN: B000A1OG1S
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Description

State-of-the-art medical facility Kingdom Hospital sits upon the site of a tragic mill fire, and some say the spirits of those who died haunt it. Artist Peter Rickman is left for dead after a hit-and-run accident and is frequented by visions of a young ghost named Mary and the strange beast Antubis. An accident lands Peter's assailant in the same recovery room. Self-proclaimed psychic and hypochondriac Mrs. Druse holds a séance for the terminally ill patients and detects a new evil presence is in the hospital, only to receive news that her own tests have abnormal results. As Peter continues his slow recovery, the Antubis reminds him there is a price to pay for his life being saved.

Customer Reviews:

TWIN SPOOKS.......2006-02-20

NOTE: This is the first three episodes of the series; so you need to catch the other two to get the whole series.
KINGDOM HOSPITAL seems to be Stephen King's homage to TWIN PEAKS. Stylistically they have much in common: animals that talk (including an anteater!); Downs Syndrome actors reminiscent of the dancing baby in Peaks; hospital staff breaking into song and dance with NA NA NA KISS HIM GOODBYE; and other subtle reminders. On its own, the beginning episodes are familiar King territory with vengeful spirits; eccentric characters; and many subplots going on. Set in a state of the art hospital built on the site of a Civil War era factory, KINGDOM HOSPITAL is unusual viewing. Andrew McCarthy does well as the maverick Dr. Hook; Bruce Davison chews up the scenery (quite well) as the egotistical, insensitive Dr. Stegman; Diane Ladd oozes maternal kindness as the hypochondriacal Sally Druse who knows the hospital is haunted; Suki Kaiser is good as Natalie Rickman, the wife of artist Peter Rickman (Jack Coleman), who is struck down by a van while jogging (King's own accident years ago resurfaces in this one); Jamie Harrold as the nerdish sex fiend, Dr. Straff; and Ed Begley Jr. as the hospital administrator.
Directed by Craig Baxley, the series quickly captures your attention and makes you want to watch the whole set!

Buy the full series.......2005-11-28

I gave 5 stars for the show because it was amazing.
But, if you're going to buy Kingdom Hospital; buy the whole series. (4 disc box set)
It has extra features, all the shows are in one box and it comes out to around the same price anyway, maybe even cheaper depending on where you go.
I don't own these three DVD's but it seems to me like a rip off.

DONT BUY THIS!!!.......2005-11-14

This is the biggest scam ever!! This DVD will just leave you hangin and wanting more. You might as well buy the complete season if your gonna get into this because you will be pissed when the second episode is over and you are left there wondering what the hell happens. I bought this like an idiot at the store and then found out about the full season!! This DVD just cheats you out of 20 bucks, worst money I ever spent!!

Just checked in to the Hospital.......2005-10-03

So I am watching this series and realize, "Hey, this is really good!" I have stopped the dvd long enough to eat and go to the restroom. I am not usually a long distance tv watcher but I can't seem to stop. Everytime Peter wakes up and speaks AND NO ONE IS AROUND you just want to pull your hair out. Ok, I have said enough. This is a must see. If you have the patience to wait, buy one at a time. If you are like me, you will want them all. Is it Oct 11th? I bought too soon and have to wait for Post Mortem to come out. That is the last one, right?

Stephen King presents Kingdom Hospital - Making the Rounds

Average customer rating:

Campy good watchin'
Still going

Stephen King presents Kingdom Hospital - Making the Rounds
Starring: Andrew McCarthy , Bruce Davison , Diane Ladd , Brandon Bauer , and Jack Coleman (II)
Director: Craig R. Baxley
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Stephen King Presents Kingdom Hospital - The Beginning
Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital: Post Mortem
Stephen King Presents - Kingdom Hospital
Nightmares & Dreamscapes - From the Stories of Stephen King
Stephen King's Desperation

ASIN: B000AA4JNO
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Description

Customer Reviews:

Campy good watchin'.......2006-04-21

Loved it. It is funny, spooky and a great campy mini series/movie. You can tell from watching that the actors had a great time making it, too. I recommend it to anyone who thinks Stephen King is just t-o-o-o-o scary to watch. King's dark humor just oozes from this series. I'm buying my own so I wont have to rent it anymore.

Still going.......2005-10-03

I picked up the dvds today and have been watching them since I got home. I didn't know there was another installment not yet released. OH OCT 11TH, HURRY UP AND GET HERE! Stephen King is a master and he has done well with Kingdom Hospital. Dark humor is right; I know I was laughing at times. You can really feel the pain Mary is in and just want to jump into the TV and help her. Ok so I really dont like Stegman and hope he gets it in the end. Is it Oct 11th yet? As soon as I am done here I am placing my pre-order. Enjoy the series, all.

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