‘America’s Biggest Hero is back… and He’s not happy.’
King Kong Lives is a 1986 American monster film produced by DEG Studios (Maximum Overdrive; Trick or Treat; Evil Dead II). Directed by John Guillermin and featuring special effects by Carlo Rambaldi, the film stars Linda Hamilton (The Terminator) and Brian Kerwin. It was a belated sequel to the 1976 King Kong.
Having been shot down from the World Trade Center in 1976, King Kong is kept alive in a coma for about ten years at the Atlantic Institute, under the care of surgeon Dr Amy Franklin (Linda Hamilton). In order to save Kong’s life, Dr Franklin must perform a heart transplant and give Kong a computer-monitored artificial heart. However, he lost so much blood that a transfusion is badly needed.
Enter adventurer Hank Mitchell (Brian Kerwin), who captures a giant female gorilla in Borneo (Mitchell theorises that Borneo and the island from the first movie were once part of the same landmass), bringing her to the Institute so her blood can be used for Kong’s operation. The transfusion and the heart transplant are a success, but Kong escapes along with the female, who is dubbed “Lady Kong”…
Reviews:
“The problem with everyone in King Kong Lives is that they’re in a boring movie, and they know they’re in a boring movie, and they just can’t stir themselves to make an effort.” RogerEbert.com
“Mere description cannot do this film justice. Neither the brain dead dialogue nor its delivery help us to resist deriding it at every turn. And in scene after scene, little touches like the Buick-sized artificial heart, the squishy/sucky sound effects during Kong’s surgery, or the dopey lovesick smiles on the apes’ faces prompt fits of disbelieving snickers.” John Wilson, The Official Razzie Movie Guide
Teaser trailer [HD 1080p]:
YouTube reviews:
Film Facts:
Also known as King Kong II
King Kong Lives is listed in Golden Raspberry Award founder John Wilson’s book The Official Razzie Movie Guide as one of The 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.
Cast and characters:
Brian Kerwin as Hank Mitchell
Linda Hamilton as Dr Amy Franklin
Peter Elliott as King Kong
John Ashton as Lt.Col. Archie Nevitt
George Yiasoumi as Lady Kong
Benjamin Kechley as Baby Kong
Frank Maraden as Dr Benson Hughes
Peter Michael Goetz as Dr Andrew Ingersoll
Jimmie Ray Weeks as Major Peete
Jimmy Wiggins as Boyfriend
Mary Swafford as Girlfriend
Michael Forest as Vance
Leon Rippy as Will
Herschel Sparber as Jay
Wallace Merck as Chigger
Dean Whitworth as Scruffy
Jonathan Canfield as Jump Ranger #1
Jack Wheeler (twin) as Officer #1
Joe Wheeler (twin) as Officer #2
David Hartzell as Sergeant #1
Patrick Webb as Infantryman
Greg Hendrixson as Jump Ranger #2
Jim Grimshaw as Sergeant
Robin Cahall as Mazlansky
Matt Totty as Sgt. Tucker
Rod Davis as TV Reporter
