Release:
1990 Directed by Rob Reiner Written by: Stephen King (novel), William Goldman
(screenplay)
Starring:
James Caan as Paul Sheldon Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes Richard
Farnsworth as Sheriff John T. 'Buster' McCain
Stephen King novels
are scary, that much is clear. How well do Stephen
King novels translate to the Silver Screen? That part is debatable. In
many cases the necessity to “pare down” the length
and details, as well as the move from action “in your
imagination” to action “on the screen”
loses something in the translation. Happily Misery
made the translation well.
Our story begins with Paul
Sheldon (James Caan), a writer of trashy novels who has an auto
accident as he travels to the isolated mountain cabin that serves as
his “literary sanctuary”. The accident is
bad…real bad…and it appears that his broken body
will perish in the snow – until an angel appears. Annie
Wilkes is Paul’s “Number One
fan”, and happens upon the accident scene just in
time to rescue Paul from his icy fate and bring him to her comfy
country home to nurse him back to health. Wow, Paul is one lucky
guy…or is he. You see, Annie is a little whacked
in the head, and decides that the best way to show her
adoration for her favorite author is to keep him prisoner in her home
with no means of escape.
Misery
is a true
psychological horror film. There is no real gore to
speak of. The scare factor is all in your head, and in the realization
that Paul is powerless to defend himself against the crazy Annie.
The real strength of this film
is found in the amazing performance of Kathy Bates. The academy award
earned by Bates for her performance in Misery is
well deserved, as she effectively conveys suspense, terror, madness,
tenderness and psychosis with a single glance.
At Best-Horror-Movies.com
I have received a few comments about Misery being
included on a best 100 horror movies list – several of them
contend that it is not a horror movie at all. I beg to differ.
Gore there is not, that much is
true. But…if suspense, dread, fear and terror can be
conveyed and communicated without a single gory scene then
that’s the genius of horror cinema!
It’s one thing to inspire fear by chasing young lovelies
through the woods wielding a machete. It’s another thing to
create the same type of heart-stopping angst through a simple phrase by
a star-struck psychotic who has her victim in a position of utter
helplessness.
Rob Reiner, the
director of Misery,
has had an interesting career – gaining notoriety as the
actor playing “meathead” on the television series All
in the Family starring Carroll O’Connor. His
directing credits include This is Spinal Tap, Stand
by Me and When Harry met Sally.
I believe, however, that Misery will be the
achievement that he will be most proud of as he enters ripe old age.
Between the intensity of Kathy Bates, the quiet panic of actor James
Caan, and the brilliant ability of Rob Reiner to create a tone of dread
and despair, Misery is a classic of horror that
must be seen to be appreciated. Questions
or comments about Misery? Contact us!
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