Dir: Rob Reiner, 1990
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100157/
Reviewed by: Whitney
Plot: A well known novelist, Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is driving home from his visit to a remote woodsy town where he has just completed his latest installment in his cult book series. Due to a freak snow storm, Paul runs his car off the road causing a near fatal accident. Luckily, or so it seems, for Paul, his biggest fan, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) rescues him and nurse him back to health. In a not-so-lucky turn of fate for Paul, Annie, furious with him for killing off her favorite literary character of all time in his recent manuscript, decides to keep Paul bed-ridden and completely dependent on her until he re-writes the ending to the story.
Review: Maybe one of the most tense thrillers Steven King has ever written, and it definitely translates on to film. Reiner shoots the suspense of this movie brilliantly. I jump every. single. time I watch it, not to mention remain on edge throughout the film. There is a sequence where Annie leaves to the store to buy Paul the "correct" typing paper and Paul figures out a way to escape the guest room for the first time that highlights this tension masterfully. My stomach is churning just writing about it (or perhaps it is just all of the coffee I've had.) Glah, so good! Onset anxiety issues here I, gladly, come!
I also am going to take a paragraph just to dedicate to Kathy Bates. While James Caan is shining in this role, especially during scenes where he feigns Stockholm syndrome to mask his contempt for this psychopath, the nutter herself is the clear winner (and the Academy would agree with me on this, as they awarded her Best Actress for her role.) Bates really has the challenge of acting out three different roles in this movie: complete psychopath (both the hysterical and viloent subcategories), pleasant nursemaid, and super-fan. She nails all three equally. And props to Reiner who knows exactly which shots work best for each split-personality trait, whether it's the lingering upward shot of Bates standing over Caan's bed when he awakes due to a thunder storm, or the less intimidating shots of her when she relays her abundant knowledge of Paul's personal life. It all works so well. Kathy Bates is the exact type of person you would dream for this role- she doesn't over act it, she's believable, and creepy from the very first moment to her brutal last. I love seeing a female in a strong, aggressive role in a horror/thriller film for once. I love that the character does not rely on some sort of bimbo tactics and actually has depth, even if she is the "bag guy".
As I own, but have never read the book, I can't tell you if the screenplay does it justice, but it is well adapted for a movie-going audience. This movie is not a mystery. There are no surprise endings or twists that it must use as a crutch to carry the plot along; it simply moves at a healthy pace on its own. The storyline itself picks up right away, with in the first 5 minutes, and the character roles are clear from the beginning as well. Every now and then, you just need to leave M. Knight Shamalamadingdong and home and just get to the point. Misery is a prime example of why that concept works. Maybe I'll be Annie Wilkes for Halloween....
I can't well enough end this review without mentioning "that scene." You know the one, even if you have never seen this movie before... the scene where she hobbles Paul in order to keep him bed-ridden. Yeah, this scene may be the most graphically gruesome, yet bloodless scene to ever hit the movie screen. I don't think I've ever seen this part once, in all of the times I've watched Misery, with out turning away a bit. It's not even stomach-churning, it's just a moment of to-the-bone discomfort.
I recommend this movie if you have never seen it before, or even if you have. I suggest watching it if you like horror movies that do not need supernatural elements to terrify you. I also recommend watching it if you are a little bit stuck on yourself and love having oodles of fans, er, friends pour over your every facebook sentence. Maybe you'll think again.
Rating: 8.5/10
Scare Scale: Terrifyingly Suspenseful
I've read and absolutely LOVE the book, but also think the movie is exceptionally well made. One of the more horrible scenes in the movie (the hobbling scene)is actually not a hobbling scene in the book. It's a lot more graphic and bloody. I won't spoil it here, but it's one difference I think I prefer in the movie: hobbling is just so... barbaric.
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