Misery is a 1990 American horror-thriller film from Columbia Pictures and Castle Rock Entertainment, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film received critical acclaim for Kathy Bates' performance as the psychopathic Annie Wilkes. Bates won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe. The film was ranked #12 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.
Plot
Famed novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is the author of romance novels involving the character Misery Chastaine. After finishing his latest novel, he departs from Silver Creek, Colorado to New York; he drives in the middle of a blizzard and his car goes off the road. He is rescued by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) and brought to her home.
Annie claims she is his number one fan, and goes on and on about how she cherishes Paul and his novels. Annie initially seems to be a kind nurse with a happy-go-lucky attitude, but it becomes clear that she is psychotic. He lets her read his novel and she says she disagrees with profanity; while she is feeding him, she loses control, spilling some soup on him, but regains control and apologizes.
Annie then gets a copy of Paul's latest book, Misery's Child, the last Misery novel, as Paul has decided to write other stories, including the one he has already finished. After he has "killed" Misery in this story, Annie goes into a rage, almost killing Paul. She claims that she never contacted the hospital, or anyone Paul knows. Annie leaves and Paul decides to escape his room, but she has locked the door. The next morning, Annie makes Paul burn his latest novel. He initially refuses, but then Annie starts pouring gas onto the bedspread, making it clear that she will set the bed on fire if he doesn't comply.
Paul stashes some Novril pills, planning to drug Annie at some point. She makes him write a Misery novel entitled Misery's Return in which he brings the character back to life. As Annie is setting up a typewriter, Paul spots a hairpin on the floor, planning to use it to unlock his door. He sends Annie into town to get him typewriter paper. While she is away, Paul unlocks his door, but learns both doors out of the house are locked tight. He tries calling the police but discovers Annie's telephone is fake.
As Paul has satisfied Annie with his work on resurrecting Misery, he asks her if she will have dinner with him; she happily accepts. As they dine, Paul makes Annie get a candle and drugs her wine. As they toast, Annie accidentally knocks over the candle and spills the drugged wine.
Local sheriff Buster (Richard Farnsworth) has been investigating Paul's disappearance. After investigating, he thinks Paul has been kidnapped after finding his car and marks on the door. One night, Annie comes to give Paul his medicine and has a handgun with her thinking she might use it. As Annie leaves in the night, Paul gets a butcher knife from the kitchen to defend himself. In the middle of the night, Annie drugs Paul and the following morning ties him up and tells him that she knows he's left his room in her absence and found out he planned to kill her. She breaks his ankles with a sledgehammer.
As Buster continues his investigation, he comes across an article with Annie in it and reads a passage quoted by one of the Misery novels then chats with the general store owner and he tells Buster that she's been buying typing paper. As Buster visits Annie, she drugs Paul and hides him in the basement. Buster inspects the house but finds nothing. As Buster leaves, Paul regains consciousness and tries to get Buster's attention. He finds Paul in the basement but is shot and killed by Annie. Annie decides to end both their lives, but Paul talks Annie out of it by convincing her to let him finish the book. In a last ditch effort, he then takes some lighter fluid planning to set the book on fire.
As Paul finishes the last chapter, he tells Annie to get a cigarette with a match and a glass of champagne. As he sends her to get a second glass, he drenches the book with lighter fluid. When she returns, he sets the book on fire; as she tries to put the fire out, he bashes her in the head with the typewriter. A brawl breaks out between them with Paul getting the upper hand. He trips her, causing her to land head-first on the typewriter. As Paul escapes his room, Annie lunges on top of him and he bashes her in the head with a small steel pig statue, killing her.
Eighteen months later, Paul (now able to walk again) meets with his publishing agent in a restaurant, discussing his first non-Misery novel called The Higher Education of J. Philip Stone, which has become a real success. His agent asks if he wants to write a non-fiction book about his time with Annie, but Paul claims it would not be good for him. He then sees a vision of Annie as a waitress but it turns out to be someone else. The waitress claims that she is his number one fan, to which Paul responds, "That's very sweet of you."
Cast
Awards
Reception
Misery was very well received by audiences and critics alike. On the critic website Rotten Tomatoes, this film currently holds a 90% "fresh" rating. The consensus for the film states, "Elevated by standout performances from James Caan and Kathy Bates, this taut and frightening film is one of the best Stephen King adaptations to date."
Roger Ebert liked the film, stating, "It is a good story, a natural, and it grabs us."[1] On the movie website IMDB, the film has been in the Top 250 Movies of All Time list, but has since fallen off due to higher-scoring films in 2009.[2]
The movie was remade in India as a Tamil film called Julie Ganapathi.[3]
Misery was the fourth place under the 10 Claustrophobic horror films of the genre magazine Bloody Disgusting.[4]
Music
The film's score was composed by Marc Shaiman. It was released on CD in January 1991, on the Bay Cities record label.
Soundtrack listing
- "Number One Fan"
- "She Can't Be Dead"
- "Open House"
- "Go To Your Room"
- "Buster's Last Stand"
- "Misery's Return"
References
External links
