When a young female doctor notices an unnatural amount of comas occurring in her hospital she uncovers a horrible conspiracy.When a young female doctor notices an unnatural amount of comas occurring in her hospital she uncovers a horrible conspiracy.When a young female doctor notices an unnatural amount of comas occurring in her hospital she uncovers a horrible conspiracy.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Dr. Susan Wheeler
- (as Genevieve Bujold)
- Dr. Morelind
- (as Harry Rhodes)
- Vince
- (as Lance Le Gault)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTwo versions of all scenes of the coma patients in the coma clinic were filmed. One version had them semi-naked whilst the other, for television screenings, had them covered-up.
- GoofsDark-haired stuntman falling down the stepped aisle of the lecture theatre, in place of fair-haired villain.
- Quotes
Dr. Susan Wheeler: Jim, I know it sounds silly but, supposing you wanted to put people into a coma, what would you do?
Jim: You mean on purpose?
Pathology Resident #2: Diethyl para-amino tannadol.
Jim: No, no, leaves a serum trace.
Pathology Resident #2: Yeah, if you know to look for it.
Jim: But it also peaks alk phos. That's a real giveaway. Besides, who can get tannadol?
Pathology Resident #2: Well, then you can use paradine.
Jim: No, it has a taste. We'd all make great murderers. I mean, who knows better about murder than a pathologist?
Pathology Resident #2: It sure keeps my wife in line.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood Hospital (2004)
Michael Crichton takes the most from Cook's book and assembles a most enjoyable thriller with tension all along, intrigue and an impacting ending too. Among the shocking and powerful sequences this movie offers there's the chasing of Wheeler by a hired killer that lasts in the hospital's morgue full with dead bodies hanging from the ceiling in transparent plastic bags in a sort of subrealistic scene; her visit to the mysterious Jefferson Institute where coma patients are held; the "accidental" death by electrocution of a cleaning employee of the hospital that knows to much; and the final discovery by Wheeler of how things are and who is behind them.
Genevieve Bujold gives a fine performance as the stubborn Wheeler and Michael Duoglas is alright too as her work partner and lover (not a very demanding role anyway). Rip Torn (the surgery chief) and Elizabeth Ashley as a sinister nurse credit the supporting cast. And there's finally Richard Widmark very convincing as the Medical Center's Director who shows sympathy for Wheeler although he believes she's just a trouble maker that could ruin the Hospital's reputation.
A great thriller that constantly improves as the film goes on. You can't miss it if you like real suspense in movies.
- ragosaal
- Sep 27, 2006
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $4,500,000 (estimated)