... 'Misery' stars Kathy Bates and James Caan. - Genre Thriller/Horror, Running time 100 minutes and BBFC Rating: 18. -
Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is a very successful writer. He has used the heroine called 'Misery' in most of his books, but he has now decided to 'kill her off' so to speak. ... Read review
Based on the chilling bestseller by Stephen King,Miserywas brought to the screen by ... more
director Rob Reiner as one of the most effective thrillers of the 1990s. From a brilliant adaptation by screenwriter William Goldman, Reiner turned King's cautionary ta...
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Based on the chilling bestseller by Stephen King,Miserywas brought to the screen by ... more
director Rob Reiner as one of the most effective thrillers of the 1990s. From a brilliant adaptation by screenwriter William Goldman, Reiner turned King's cautionary ta...
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A heart-stopping psychological thriller, this Academy Award-winning* film is one of the ... more
best horror movies ever. Adapted from a Stephen King novel by Oscar-winning** screenwriter William Goldman (Hearts In Atlantis) and directed by Rob Reiner (A Few Go...
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: K.C. Bascombe - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jesse James, Rachel Skarsten, Charles Powell, Linda Purl, Kevin Zegars
Advantages: A film full of suspense. Disadvantages: None really.
- MISERY -
Released in 1990, written by Stephen King and directed by Rob Rein. 'Misery' stars Kathy Bates and James Caan. - Genre Thriller/Horror, Running time 100 minutes and BBFC Rating: 18. -
Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is a very successful writer. He has used the heroine called 'Misery' in most of his books, ... ...and some inspiration. The character Misery has been his 'money spinner' in quite a few of his novels so far, but he now feels it is time to call it a day, and go on to try other things. He has a great fondness for Misery, but put her to bed he must. His agent is not so happy with his plans, thinking it may signal an end to his career. Undeterred, Paul heads for the mountains, which is something he likes to do in the winter when the snow is falling ... more
- MISERY -
Released in 1990, written by Stephen King and directed by Rob Rein. 'Misery' stars Kathy Bates and James Caan. - Genre Thriller/Horror, Running time 100 minutes and BBFC Rating: 18. -
Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is a very successful writer. He has used the heroine called 'Misery' in most of his books, but he has now decided to 'kill her off' so to speak. As is his want, when he is preparing to write a new book, he takes off to the hills for some peace and quiet, a little bit of thinking time and some inspiration. The character Misery has been his 'money spinner' in quite a few of his novels so far, but he now feels it is time to call it a day, and go on to try other things. He has a great fondness for Misery, but put her to bed he must. His agent is not so happy with his plans, thinking it may signal an end to his career. Undeterred, Paul heads for the mountains, which is something he likes to do in the winter when the snow is falling .
After finishing his book, and bringing an end to Misery, manuscript in hand, he prepares to drive back to New York. On the journey back Paul gets caught in a driving blizzard and crashes the car. - When he comes round he finds himself in bed in a strange house. Unbeknownst to Paul a woman had rescued him from the freezing snow and taken him to her house to care for him. The woman is Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), Annie tells him there is no way to get to the hospital as all the roads are cut off due to the snow drifts, and she explains how she has looked after him for the last few days. She tells him she is a nurse, and upon finding out just who he is she tells him: "I am your number 1 fan, and I have read all your books!" and we begin to get the impression that she is a little obsessed with the author. She goes on to say that as soon as the snow clears a bit she will ring an ambulance to get him to hospital. Paul's injuries are pretty bad and he is unable to get out of bed. Spotting Pauls manuscript Annie asks if she may read it. Unreluctantly Paul agrees, feeling a little in debt to his rescuer. After finishing the book Annie realises with horror that he has killed off his heroine Misery, and we begin to see an extremely unsettling change to the woman who has tended Paul up until now. -
What I loved most about this film was the brilliant characterisation of Annie by Kathy Bates. She is totally believable as the psychotic Annie, and she puts in a very scary performance, which builds in tension throughout. The uneasiness in this film increases by the minute and I felt genuinely anxious about what Annie would do next. Her schizophrenic tendencies were so unpredictable, and it was this that held my attention throughout the duration of this two hander. Set entirely within the house, and mainly in the bedroom the atmosphere was extremely claustrophobic. Also Paul was entirely dependent upon this woman, and I felt a real empathy with the helpless man caught in a snare. There is no arguing with insanity, and Paul was trapped in a confinement not of his own making, and he had no escape. So the viewer's sympathy is with him every step of the way. Anyone who has seen this film will know the 'Typewriter' scene, and this sickened me to the core. Misery is extremely well done, brilliantly directed and acted by both Kathy Bates and James Caan. He played the helpless writer fantastically, and I found him both genuine and totally believable. The two actors played well to each other, and I felt this film to be perfectly cast. I felt a real worry for Paul's plight, and was rooting for him, every time Annie's back was turned.
Kathy Bates won an Oscar for characterisation of Annie Wilkes and well deserved too. I think her portrayal of Annie is one of the most believable female performances that I have seen on screen, and I have watched this film many times. The premise is a simple one really, but it is what comes out of the situation that is so horrifying. I think that this is one of Stephen King's best stories. Sometimes I find his books a little farfetched and I tend to prefer his simpler storylines, it is much more effective I feel to have an uncomplicated storyline which can give way to the building of more rounded characters and subsequent superb performances hopefully, and in Misery's case this is just what occurred. Anyway for those who haven't seen Misery I recommend you give it a viewing, it is an excellent film and packed full of suspense.
Though not a horror film in the purest sense, Misery has to be one of the scariest films that I have seen, and I squirmed and fidgeted my way throughout my first viewing of it, and had to turn away several times. The cranking up of the tension was employed at all the right moments, until it had me right on the edge of my seat. I think what made Misery so scary for me was the fact that it was a situation that was plausible. It could possibly happen, whereas seeing Michael Myers wandering down my street, would probably not. This sort of film always scares me far more than a slasher/Horror. It's more feasible somehow that the situation that Paul was in could possibly happen, moreso than a deranged man wielding a huge chainsaw above his head would be. The claustrophobic quality that takes place when watching the film is brought on by the fact that all the action takes place in the one room and there is no escape for the viewer, or any other distraction other than that one bedroom for most of the films duration. -
Stephen Kings books do not normally translate too well to film, but I feel in Miserys case because of the simplistic storyline the whole thing works very well. Even Stephen King was very pleased with the result of book to film. As in a lot of Kings stories the central theme and key is entrapment and helplessness, and this gives the film it's uncomfortable edge, giving way to real moments of sheer terror. The isolated setting also adds to the horror of the situation, knowing that whatever awful things may happen within the house, Pauls screams will be to no avail. So we have all the right elements for the perfect horror film here. Isolation, entrapment, and a totally deranged personality controlling her captive. His dependacy on his captor for everything makes you feel even more empathy for him as he simply cannot win, but has no choice other than to put himself in her hands. Misery is a gripping, chilling tale, and a fantastic film and I recommend you give it a viewing if only for Kathy Bates performance alone. -
- Cast List - Paul Sheldon - James Caan Annie Wilkes - Kathy Bates Buster - Richard Farnsworth Virginia - Frances Sternhagen
Director - Rob Rein Certificate -- 18 Duration -- 100 minutes
Advantages: Brilliant acting, plot and really does scare you Disadvantages: Aren't any...
...to kill of the character Misery he loves so. With warnings from his agent, family and friends, that it’s a silly idea, he still goes ahead with it and he kills off the most famous character in book history.
Paul, every time he writes a book, heads off to write his book in the mountains. He always goes there in the winter, when the snow is falling. After finishing his final book in the series of Misery, he checks out of his hotel, and leaves ... ...copy of the new UNTITLED Misery book. But, on the way to the airport a blizzard begins, and Paul is left being pulled of the road, and he falls off a cliff in his car.
Luckily, a driver by sees all of this, and she takes him back to her house. But, lucky it is not, because when Paul comes round, he is greeted by Annie Wilkes telling him:
“I’m your no.1 fan.”
Soon, Annie explains to Paul that she found him, and nursed him over ...
Mattroberts 05.05.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Misery (Special Edition) (DVD)
Advantages: Kathy Bates performance as Annie Disadvantages: Might be a bit gory for some
...yet got around to reading Misery yet. However, after watching the film adaptation starring Kathy Bates and James Caan, it will only be a matter of time. This is a truly chilling and gripping horror film, made even better by Kathy Bates truly terrifying performance as Annie Wilkes, an extremely warped and psychotic individual. Although the plot is rather thin and the characters a little one-dimensional, the film is saved not only by Bates wonderful ... ...when translated into films, but Misery is one big exception, with King himself a fan of the film version. The premise of the film may be simple but it's effective in setting the scene. Famous novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is driving on a snowy Colorado road when his car skids off the road and crashes. It seems that Paul will die, but thankfully he is rescued by a mysterious stranger, who turns out to be Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). While taking ...
bigmike33 22.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Misery (Special Edition) (DVD)
...the plain useless(IT, Pet Semetary). Misery falls somewhere in between those two boundaries, certainly not being a bad movie, but at the same time not hitting the high notes which it perhaps ought to have done. Nevertheless, it is still a pretty fine movie and one with one of the most horrific and cringeworthy scenes in movie history. Paul Sheldon is a romance novelist who writes about a character called Misery Chastain. Hugely successful he has ... ...his, especially the character of Misery and seems willing to do just about naything to please him...that is until she finds out that he intends to kill off Misery in the pursuit of fresh challenges. Annie truns from adoring fan to psychopath who forces him to write another novel about Misery for her, stopping at nothing to keep him in her house whilst he does so...and I mean nothing. Misery is certainly not one of King's all out horror novels but ...
wampyrii 21.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Misery (Special Edition) (DVD)
Advantages: Real, sweaty tension througout and one outstanding, Oscar-winning performance from 'Annie' Disadvantages: Some may not be able to stand the tension!
This has to be one of my all-time favourite films. I love Stephen King's books, but rarely do they translate well onto the big-screen. This is one outstanding exception.
As with many King storylines, the protagonist is himself an author and in this case he has just finished the last in a long series of novels. He's on his way to deliver the book to his publisher in New York when he has a horrific car accident up in the mountains. I won't give away ... ...'Number One Fan', who nurses him back to health in the confines of her isolated house. Needless to say, this fan - Annie - is not all that she seems.
Throughout there is a fantastic sense of tension as the style of King's book comes through into the film really well. The feeling of helplessnes that the viewer gets in any film of this type (because, obviously, as the viewer you cannot do anything about what is happening on-screen) is accentuated ...
nikeair 08.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Misery (Special Edition) (DVD)
Advantages: Well Acted, Tense, Well Directed Disadvantages: None
...disappointment after it's spooky trailers. misery just falls under shawshank as the best king adaptation because it's memorable, gets under your skin and has moments of sheer terror as well as some dark humour. Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is a famous novelist known for writing a series of books that feature a character named misery. Sheldon writes every book in the quiet surroundings of new england before returning to new york. He has finished his ... ...her home forever. Misery is essentially a play, the majority of the story takes place in one room where paul is recovering. however it is far from dull due to the performances from caan and bates. Screenwriter William Goldman defines the characters superbly as when we first encounter annie she comes across as a wonderful human being. This makes her lapses into madness much more disturbing and this is when we fear for sheldon. bates plays annie perfectly ...
utero 05.10.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Misery (Special Edition) (DVD)
When author Paul Sheldon suffers a car accident in a blizzard, he thanks his lucky stars that nurse Annie Wilkes was on hand... That is until he discovers that she's his number one fan and has no intention of ever letting him go. Based on the novel by Stephen King.
Commentary - 1. Rob Reiner, 2. William Goldman, Documentary - 1. MISERY LOVES COMPANY, Marc Shaiman's Musical Misery Tour, Theatrical Trailer, Teaser Trailer, Photo Gallery
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Mono
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital Mono Czech
Award information
OSCAR
Best Actress In A Leading Role 1991 (Kathy Bates)
Professional reviews
Review
"Thrillers come little better than this." (Daily Mail, )
DVD Description
Romance author Paul Sheldon (James Caan) longs to be rid of Misery, his plucky heroine of seven novels. She has delivered him fame and fortune and recognition beyond the average writer's dreams, but she is also interminably linked to him. Determined to escape an eternal role as pulp novelist, he kills her off in the eighth novel and heads to his New England cabin to work on his own Great American Novel. Upon completion, Sheldon excitedly sets out for his New York City publisher in the midst of a raging blizzard and within minutes veers into a desolate snowbank. From the brink of death, he is rescued from the snow by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who just so happens to be Misery's self-professed biggest fan. At first, she nurses him back to health in her remote cabin, telling him the roads and phones are damaged by the storm, fawning over his literary accomplishments. However, things change when she purchases his eighth Misery book and reaches the point of Misery's death. Annie's psychotic underbelly swiftly surfaces as the unfortunate author is held clandestinely captive in her home. Meanwhile, a wily small-town sheriff (Richard Farnsworth) circles in... Director Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's novel is an eerie tale of obsessiveness and isolation. The film features an excellent turn by Caan and an Oscar-winning performance by Bates.
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