There's this weird treatment that Stephen King
novels get when being adapted to film and television. While his novel
adaptations into "Mini-Series" have become infamous for their lack of
direction, laughable production value and terrible acting, his other films
have become cinematic classics. A couple really good Stephen King
novels that have been made into movies include The Shining, Carrie, Stand
By Me, and The Shawshank Redemption. The great thing about
each and every one of these films (not excluding this one) is that they all are
really good, and each have their own style while still retaining the same
essence of fear and suspense that King so often adds in his writing. Although Rob Reiner's Misery is not graced as the greatest Stephen King adaptation, it is certainly an honorable mention, and truly a classic from the horror category.
Misery is about Paul Sheldon (James Caan), a writer who has just finished the final book in his series entitled, "Misery". After getting into a car accident during a blizzard he is rescued by a die hard fan (and deranged ex-nurse) named Annie Wilkes (Cathy Bates). When Wilkes finds Sheldon's final book she is horrified to read that he has killed the main character of the series as a finale, and forces him to write a new book. Throughout the film, there is this underlying theme of isolation. Paul Sheldon spends almost the entirety of the film on the Wilkes' farm, which is planted significantly far from any means of help, or any hope of escape.
Like I said, most of the film takes place in the Wilkes' farmhouse where Paul Sheldon is held captive, isolated from the rest of the world for close to the entire movie. And that's the key word here: isolation. Rob Reiner does a great job of making you feel like you are alone with Sheldon. You do get to look outside of the house to see the lazy, but fortunately keen sheriff, Buster, played by Richard Farnsworth attempt to solve the case of the missing writer. I didn't think about it at the time, but I now find it very clever the way that Buster concludes Wilkes to be the kidnapper and killer. Cathy Bates' performance as Annie is the first and foremost reason why this is a good film. Her sweet and tender outer shell lures you into a false state of security, so when she snaps for the first time it's actually scary. This "ticking time bomb" of sorts is built up perfectly from beginning to end. The film has a wonderful way of taking you through different kinds of fear. I can't explain this without spoiling what happens in the end, but I will say that whatever you thought was going to happen...It's much worse than that.
"Misery" is surprising. As soon as you're comfortable with where the film has established itself, it has an abrupt way of changing the game, setting new rules, and escalating the tension and fear till the apex. Reiner's filming can get away with some corniness here and there among the torture and bloodshed, but at the core "Misery" proves to be cold-hearted in tone, and incredible in execution.
8.3/10
Misery is about Paul Sheldon (James Caan), a writer who has just finished the final book in his series entitled, "Misery". After getting into a car accident during a blizzard he is rescued by a die hard fan (and deranged ex-nurse) named Annie Wilkes (Cathy Bates). When Wilkes finds Sheldon's final book she is horrified to read that he has killed the main character of the series as a finale, and forces him to write a new book. Throughout the film, there is this underlying theme of isolation. Paul Sheldon spends almost the entirety of the film on the Wilkes' farm, which is planted significantly far from any means of help, or any hope of escape.
Like I said, most of the film takes place in the Wilkes' farmhouse where Paul Sheldon is held captive, isolated from the rest of the world for close to the entire movie. And that's the key word here: isolation. Rob Reiner does a great job of making you feel like you are alone with Sheldon. You do get to look outside of the house to see the lazy, but fortunately keen sheriff, Buster, played by Richard Farnsworth attempt to solve the case of the missing writer. I didn't think about it at the time, but I now find it very clever the way that Buster concludes Wilkes to be the kidnapper and killer. Cathy Bates' performance as Annie is the first and foremost reason why this is a good film. Her sweet and tender outer shell lures you into a false state of security, so when she snaps for the first time it's actually scary. This "ticking time bomb" of sorts is built up perfectly from beginning to end. The film has a wonderful way of taking you through different kinds of fear. I can't explain this without spoiling what happens in the end, but I will say that whatever you thought was going to happen...It's much worse than that.
"Misery" is surprising. As soon as you're comfortable with where the film has established itself, it has an abrupt way of changing the game, setting new rules, and escalating the tension and fear till the apex. Reiner's filming can get away with some corniness here and there among the torture and bloodshed, but at the core "Misery" proves to be cold-hearted in tone, and incredible in execution.
8.3/10
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