Originally posted here in March 2015 on MovieRob, as part of Rob’s Meathead March blogathon.
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 rescued by retired nurse Annie Wilkes (Bates). She gets the unconscious Paul back to her modest home – instead of the obvious choice of a hospital – alarm bells – and sets him up in her spare room.
Though there is something undeniably creepy about Annie right from the start – she claims immediately to be Paul’s “Number 1 Fan” – things don’t begin too badly. Though Paul suspects she has mental health issues (oh if only you knew dirty birdy!!) it is only after she reads his newly published Misery Chastain novel and finds out he has killed her favourite character that she begins to show just how damn crazy and violent she can be. And with Paul confined to his bed and unable to walk or communicate with anyone except Annie he has no choice but to give into her demands of writing a new book.
What could possibly go wrong?
Misery is without doubt one of the finest Stephen King adaptations ever made. To be fair I’ve never read the book, but everyone loves it (even Mr King himself). It’s always had great reviews and critical acclaim. In fact it’s pretty hard to find anything wrong with it at all. I have heard of a few things that were left out of the book and some scenes that were slightly different, but that’s to be expected and Misery is still a sterling thriller from a great director, scriptwriter (William Goldman) and novelist.
It’s an interesting concept and one that plays on fears we all surely have. The idea of being trapped, confined by someone scary and unable to escape. Whilst kidnap/hostage movies have been done many times over, what gives Misery more of a unique twist is the circumstances and characters that the plot revolves around. This isn’t some nutcase (okay she IS a nutcase, but wait and see where I’m going with this) who wants to torture someone for fun or a psychopath who kidnaps soft young women ‘a la Silence of the Lambs’ style.
The performances from both Caan and Bates are outstanding. There aren’t a heap of other characters who keep popping up of course – save the sweet old sheriff, you’ll love him just like I did – but both the main actor and actress are enough to carry the whole shebang. Kathy Bates in particular gives the performance of her life. Who can think of the film Misery without straight away thinking of Kathy Bates? She manages to turn a middle aged, dumpy woman into one of the most frightening and tense character creations seen on screen during the 1990s (and there were a lot of good thrillers in the 90s).
Most of us have seen Misery but if you haven’t then I implore you to do so! It’s not a particularly dated movie, despite being made 25 years ago (god I feel old) and of course the premise and idea behind it stands the test of time anyway. It’s a classic story – tense and frightening. A film that builds up to very frightening and uneasy scenes and has a brilliant, climatic finale.
You might find you wince a bit too.
emmakwall (explains it all) 
Un film culte. Bon gros moments de pression sui arrive progressivement. Et quelle actrice…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review. I love Stephen King novels. Misery sure loves company.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! Me too, a very skilled and frightening writer 🙂
LikeLike
Think the ending of the film is more brutal than the book! I’d take having my feet chopped off rather than my ankle broken…maybe…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually agree with you 🙂 unless it was a REALLY slow process of having my feet chopped off (like a blunt, rusty saw kind of thing). I literally cannot imagine the pain of my ankles being broken and buckled in the manner of how Annie does in the film!!!
LikeLike
Excellent review, of course! I loved the book, it was great (and I would highly recommend reading it) and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, although I haven’t seen it in years. A rewatch may very well be in order, I think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to read it, one day I will! You know what it’s like though when you have a backlog and you already know the story, it takes a back seat. But it’s silly really as it’s the one King book I haven’t read that I really, really, really would like to! I bet it fits perfectly as a novel, given the setting.
Okay you rewatch the movie and I’ll read the book? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally know how that goes! It’s a really entertaining read. I am sure you will enjoy it when you do get to it xD
Oh there we go! Great idea!
LikeLike
Great post Em! I’m with you, this is one of the better adaptations of a King book. Annie comes across a little different in the book, but it still works really well. Love this flick 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jordan! 🙂 I’ve never read the book, I’d love to though, in what ways is Annie different?
Hows you and Brutus this weekend? I watched the entire season 15 of South Park!! 😀
LikeLike
I’m currently watching season 16. Its hard to explain the differences, they are subtle. In the movie she is more crazy and in your face than in the book…… if my memory serves me right
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really should read the book! 🙂
I’m watching season 18 now 🙂 some of the episodes are so bizarre. Have you seen the one where Stan’s dad is actually the singer Lorde?! OMG!
LikeLike
hahaha yeah. They come up with some bizarre stuff
LikeLiked by 1 person
VERY bizarre!!! Lol.
LikeLike
Love this film! Great as always Ems!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Geoff!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
great write up! one of the best King adaptations, hands down! needs a re-watch for sure. been a while…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Victor! 🙂 I need to rewatch it too, whenever I start talking with someone about any good film it makes me want to watch it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review, Emma! Love this one, of course, as I love all things King. 🙂 I’ve actually only watched this the one time when it came out, though. I should really watch it again. Not sure I even own it! That’s bad. I should own all King things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Miss Mutant 🙂 🙂 🙂
I know you love this one, it surely must be one of his best adaptations. What are you favourite King films / books? I love The Dark Half as a book, but I’ve only read about 4 or 5 of his books so not much to choose between! My favourite movies are Misery, The Mist, 1408 and Carrie.
You need to own Misery!!! I’d buy you a copy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh man…. Where do I start?! Emma! Reply this comment so it’s at the top of my notifications again! It’s about to disappear & I’m about to go out. Then I can reply later because, once I start talking about King, I won’t shut up. 😉 lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m reply again! Hello! I know exactly what you mean about losing comments, I do that all the time. And I’m sorry to everyone if I’ve ignored you before 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Yeah, I feel bad knowing I miss comments sometimes since I can only easily reply if they’re still on my phone app & the app only keeps a limited number. 😦 Stephen King! LOVE all his stuff. Some of the movie adaptations have been horrible but I even like the bad ones. I remember The Dark Half movie being pretty bad but I liked the book. My favorite King films are easily Shawshank (never read it – love the movie so much I’ve not been able to bring myself to read it), Stand By Me (the movie is better), and The Shining (love both book & movie even though King hates the movie). Green Mile is a really good adaptation. And love The Mist movie (don’t remember the short story well – should re-read). Favorite books are probably The Dead Zone, Salem’s Lot, The Long Walk, and all the novellas & short stories (love those). And I’ve really liked some more recent ones like Cell & Duma Key. Should I shut up now??? Lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m making an effort to today to get through the comments!! 🙂
Never shut up!!! I love listening to you 🙂 or reading what you say but you know what I mean 🙂
I know it’s mental but I’ve never really liked Stand By Me that much. I mean I don’t DISLIKE it, at all! I even have it on DVD. I just don’t love it like most people do. I love Shawshank (predictably) but haven’t watched it in years, I think I watched it too much as a teen! I like Green Mile too but it’s not quite as good as Shawshank is it 🙂
I’ve read Salem’s Lot, that book really scared me, I could barely read it at night! Definitely stands out as one of the scariest books I ever read. Needful Things I also read….and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. That was a weird one. I’ve read a few of his short stories too, I like those actually. I’ve got a collection in a book called Everything’s Eventual (I think 1408 is in there!) and it’s fun. Wasn’t The Dark Half a naff made-for-TV movie? I got it in a box set recently, along with Misery and Carrie! So will watch it at some point 🙂 I have watched some really dodgy King adaptations. Thinner was pretty weird and The Tommyknockers. I must admit I find it difficult getting into some of his books, I bought one from the charity shop recently (Gerald’s Game) and the premise sounded great but just cannot get into it at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m making an effort on my comments today too! Lol. Shush your mouth about Stand By Me! (Just kidding 😉 But I do adore it!!). Green Mile certainly doesn’t beat Shawshank but nothing does. Hmm- yeah, Dark Half did FEEL like a TV movie – think it was. It was pretty crap. Thinner was weird but one of the others from that Bachman collection of his, The Long Walk, is a fantastic one that gets little attention. Darabont had the rights to it!!!! I’ve been desperate for ages for him to make that one into a film. Gerald’s Game definitely wasn’t one of my favorites – I’m sure it would be quite near the bottom if I ranked them. Which I totally will. Someday. 😉 🙂
LikeLike
Oh! And I’ve not read Carrie. Really want to – it’s one of the few novels other than The Dark Tower series that I haven’t. Love the movie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Dark Tower series are really weird aren’t they?! Movie (Carrie) is great, agreed 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe. I don’t know! They do seem like they’ll be weird. I’ve only read the first one but don’t remember a THING as it was soooo long ago. Will start the series up again at some point. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cowboys or some shit?!
(that’s my intelligent and eloquent view!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Yeah, as far as I’m aware there’s cowboys or some shit… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe!!! Sounds fishy to me 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person