My review of the excellent Misery – courtesy of MovieRob’s Meathead March!
For today’s first review of Misery (1990), here’s a review by Emma of EmmKWall.com
Thanks Emma!
Misery (1990)
As soon as Rob mentioned the idea of Meathead March, I knew which Rob Reiner movie I’d most like to write about. Heck, even Rob himself guessed! (MovieRob I mean….not Rob Reiner)
Anyway, of course I’m talking about Misery. A psychological thriller starring James Caan and Kathy Bates, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King.
As this is a Stephen King story we can safely (and correctly) assume that the main character is going to be a writer. Caan plays Paul Sheldon, a reasonably famous author most renowned for his collection of romance novels, all starring the same protagonist Misery Chastain.
We see him at the start of the film having a car accident in the middle of nowhere and it is only by chance that he is…
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emmakwall (explains it all) 
Hey Emmy. Just wanted to comment that I really dug your review. This is a great movie but I dont think it would get made today with that big of a budget Mainly because it just has two characters in a small space. If this were to be remade it would be an indie production.
Thanks Verny! I appreciate that very much indeed 🙂
Yeah I think you’re right! And I bet most indie producers wouldn’t want to touch it really, being the classic that it is.
Seems ridiculous really that a budget would be decided on how many actors (or…more likely ‘big names’) are in the film, but it doesn’t surprise me. It’s sad though! Boo!
Apart from the real 90’s look of the film which makes it look dated to me, I love this film as much as you seemed to. I’ve seen it at least five times, and I agree its up there with the better King adaptations. Glad I found your site, you seem to have an obsession with soundtracks like I do! ;P
Great post, great movie!
That’s great!!! I can’t wait to talk soundtracks with you 🙂 I’m slowly going through each of my CDs to write about but it’s taking a while!
Glad you love the film Misery too! I didn’t realise HOW much I liked it until I started to write that review haha. I realised I couldn’t really fault it!
I’m going to check our your site now!
And yes you’re right, it does look ‘retro’ haha! The 80s/90s were my childhood, I feel so old now 😦 haha!
hehe, me too, the 90’s were a special time for me growing up. Movies from the 90’s have this odd-colour palette that makes them instantly noticable as 90’s films. Something to do with the technology. Does ruin the movies though in any sense. Misery is freakin’ great.
And yeah, me too, I’m a massive music and movie buff so the two together is heaven for me. I just started a little ‘series’ about music in films ie OSTs and also films about music, since 2014 had so many great music flicks. I’m gonna start with Inside Llewyn dvis though, that OST never ceases to give me chills. Incredible stuff
I know EXACTLY what you mean though I never knew it was a ‘real’ thing – with the colour palette I mean. It’s almost….darker isn’t it. But not dark in the sense you can’t see it properly, just all the colours appear darker (more muted?) I’m not sure how to describe it but hopefully you know what I mean!
That’s great! I’ll check out your series 🙂 OSTs that give you chills are the BEST soundtracks. I love dramatic music the most and I generally prefer scored soundtracks to a bunch of songs, but having said that Pulp Fiction is one of my all time favourites and that’s just a bunch of songs!
And I absolutely looooooove Ennio Morricone especially all the spaghetti western scores. Once Upon a Time in the West is one of my all time favourites soundtracks too!
yeah, a muted colour palette is exactly what it is, makes those late 80’s/early-mid 90’s flicks recognisable. Odd, but yeah doesn’t ruin the movie. Some of my very favourite movies are from the 90s, like 12 Monkeys and Sling Blade, and both have that same muted look. Doesn’t ruin them just makes them recognisable as 90s flicks.
Ennio Morricone is amazing. Some chilling stuff without the movie needed. Have you seen or heard the Under The Skin OST? Maaaan, if you like classical dramatic scores, check it out. Calvary also has an amazing OST. Under The Skin though it is a more haunting classical OST if you get my meaning. Some eerie stuff. I reeeeally loved the soundtrack from the grand budapest hotel as well, so quirky!
Clam!
I can’t wait to go read it : ) : )
Love Pen
Yay!! Thanks Pen 🙂 🙂
Love Clam
It was muy excellente!
Love Pen!
Great review Emma.
Awww thanks Vinnie!!!!
I’m always here for a positive comment, my blogging sister.
Ameeeeeeeeeeeen Brother! 🙂 🙂
Sing it sister, rejoice.
Testify! 🙂
Nice review, i actually only watched this for the first time over the weekend and i do feel like if a fresh audience watches it they will find it dated because of all the technology we now have, people will moan saying it would never happen, what are your thoughts on that?
Thanks Dazza 🙂 and what a coincidence you watched this recently also!
Misery may well appear dated to some younger audiences, but I don’t think it’s terribly dated – especially if compared to some movies!
The story was set before we all carried mobile phones, ipads etc so I don’t think the technology thing is a problem.
Still, I would not be surprised if this was remade one day!!
i don’t it will get remade with King still alive, i don’t fully mean i think it has dated, i mean the film fans seeing it for first time who don’t understand film will just say why didn’t they use mobiles etc, because its one of the first points films make when creating isolation, much like this did with no phone lines
Well I think viewers should realise the story is set in the 1980s – 1990s! Usually it’s fairly easy to tell from character hairstyles and clothes or what cars they’re driving, which era a story is set. If that fails there’s always IMDB 🙂
It’s only like watching any old movie. No-one would question why the kids from Stand By Me weren’t carrying ipads would they! Ha ha 🙂
The mobile phone thing is an interesting one when you look at modern horror films. With everyone having a mobile phone nowadays a lot of writers must have exhausted the “run out of signal / battery” ruse!
i had to add a quick loss of phones to my new story.
i think technology is making the idea that those two films alone have not work with modern films now a days
Sorry Dazza I’m probably being thick but not sure I quite understand you!
I don’t think it matters at all if films are too “old” to have modern technology. It’s certainly never bothered me as a viewer!
There are thousands of classic films that don’t have modern technology in. I think to be quite honest, if someone sits down to watch Scarface or Schindler’s List or 12 Angry Men and then complains no-one has a mobile phone, that’s pretty silly really!
they are historical dramas, but in the world of horror we get so much crap coming out we don’t really know what to expect because they can include anything with a small twist in the story telling, and the bad ones rely on technology to get away with the lack of story, which puts the good ones like The Babadook get overlooked by casual film fans. because of crap like Ouija and Annabelle.
we as real films fans won’t get affected by these sort of things, but the people who pay to see Transformers or TMNT will never understand how to make a good film.
I think you’re going off on a tangent now Dazza haha! Sorry but I’m a bit lost lol.
To me, things like this don’t really matter. But I guess to some people they do! I’ve never really thought about it until you brought it up but to me it’s always been perfectly obviously if a film is set in modern day or not.
Annabelle was set in the 1970s so no ‘technology’ was in that so-to-speak. And it was obviously what era it was set from the clothes and setting. I don’t think viewers need to be spoon-fed – they should be able to work these things out for themselves!
I’m not bothered if people watch Transformers or TMNT. As long as they’re happy and enjoy them, who am I to judge! I used to be more pretentious about films and stuff, but what’s the point ha ha!
I do get your point, I will comment more on your Misery review soon 🙂
but for the recorded i did find misery was great and a classic
I know! 🙂
I agree with you in part as well! I’m just commenting on your review on MovieRob’s site now 🙂 🙂
Thanks for participating Emma!
No problem Rob, thanks for having me!