Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Starring: Geneviève Bujold, Michael Douglas, Elizabeth Ashley, Rip Torn, Richard Widmark, Lois Chiles, Hari Rhodes, Ed Harris, Jason Bernard, Joanna Kerns, Tom Selleck, Richard Doyle, Alan Haufrect, Lance LeGault, Michael MacRae, Betty McGuire, Charles Siebert, William Wintersole
Review: A young doctor (Geneviève Bujold) notices an unusual amount of patients are going in for routine procedures and ending up comatose. Soon, with the help of her boyfriend and fellow doctor, Mark (Michael Douglas), she begins to investigate this unnatural occurrence and uncovers a horrible conspiracy that's so shocking that it might just put you in a Coma.
I love a good conspiracy movie, and Coma is one of the best! However, it seems that it's one of those movies that has unfortunately fallen through the cracks over the years, which is a shame. Novelist Michael Crichton is both the writer and director of this adaptation of Robin Cook's bestseller and he does a fantastic job of establishing an authentic hospital setting, populating the story with compelling characters, and expertly ratcheting up the mystery, and the tension, as our heroine delves further down the conspiratorial rabbit hole to discover some rather ethically disturbing practices within the medical community.
Geneviève Bujold is wonderful as Dr. Susan Wheeler, our driven, headstrong protagonist who just can't ignore that feeling that something is wrong. Michael Douglas is great as Wheeler's love interest and ally that is not quite convinced that her suspicions are entirely valid. Plus, the cast is rounded out with several solid character actors like Rip Torn, Richard Widmark, Elizabeth Ashley, Lois Chiles, Hari Rhodes, Richard Doyle, Lance LeGault, and brief appearances from Tom Selleck and Ed Harris, which adds to the validity of the hospital scenes whether it be in the operating room or among its administrators.
Coma is so enjoyable because it does what movies should do. It establishes a setting and characters, and then, once the audience is invested, the threat is introduced. And it really gets good when it walks that fine line of slow burning Wheeler's investigation and has you asking yourself, "Is she right or is she crazy?" You never know who to trust, what's the truth, and what or who is around each corner. It's a thriller that actually thrills, shocks, and keeps you guessing what will happen next! I don't want to spoil any of the surprises that are in store because I really want you to check this one out. Be sure to put this on your "must-see" list.
If you're afraid to go to the doctor or the hospital this one will keep you up at night. So put on a mask, grab your Blue Cross Card, and get ready to get put under by... Coma.