[HorrorScience] Misery (1990)

This section began in mid-2014 and since then we have commented on more than a hundred films (this would be number 114) and yet we have managed to ignore one of the great writers of the horror genre (and his corresponding film adaptations of his books).

I am referring to Stephen King, a very popular writer and one of the literary standards of the horror genre. Many of his films have been made into films (some more successfully than others) and his legacy seems to never end, since this year films of his books are being released (The Dark Tower and a remake of It). Despite what it may seem, none of the editors of this section hate King (quite the opposite) but coincidence has meant that we have not dedicated articles to the films based on his great books.

Well, today it's time to talk about a movie based on a book by Stephen King: Misery, directed by Rob Reiner.

Famous writer Paul Sheldon is in an isolated hotel in a snow-bound mountain town celebrating finishing his latest novel. Paul gained fame thanks to the series of books about the character Misery, to the point that he had to dedicate himself to it without being able to write about anything else, so this new novel is a great step in his career.

After finishing his stay, Paul drives his car along the snowy mountain roads. The storm worsens and he ends up having an accident. Fortunately, a woman was passing by and forced the car door to get him out and took him home.

The terrible accident has broken both of Paul's legs and one arm. Fortunately, his savior (Annie Wilkes) is a veteran nurse who has prepared a makeshift room to take care of him until good weather returns and she can take him to the hospital.

Annie is also Paul's number 1 fan and is a fan of the Misery novels, so the writer lets her read his new novel as a thank you and to remove the doubt about whether fans of his previous books will like it.

Paul's new novel greatly displeases Annie, who becomes upset when she sees swear words and other inappropriate things, thus showing a much more bitter and severe face than she has shown until now. Fortunately, his anger is short-lived, as the latest Misery novel has just gone on sale in which the protagonist dies.

Paul is aware that he is completely immobilized and that Annie takes the books too seriously, so he begins to worry and fear his situation. What will Annie do when she discovers what is happening to her beloved Misery? Will the police find Paul's car in the snow and begin a search?

This is one of those films with few characters and settings, so everything is in the hands of the actors who play the main roles. In this case, it must be said that both James Caan and Kathy Bates give their best. James Caan, in his role as an injured person without mobility, conveys fragility but determination to change his situation. As he is the protagonist, you know that something will have to go right for him, but, at the same time, he is on the verge of everything going wrong for him. There are many unsuccessful attempts to get out of her situation, as well as her plans to try to manipulate her caregiver's attitude to gain more time to avoid a possible fatal outcome. It is impossible not to feel Caan's helplessness in the cup scene.

Kathy Bates, for her part, She is an expert in giving us two versions of her character. On the one hand, we have the happy and passionate woman reading novels that make her forget about her unfortunate life. On the other, we have a cold and absolutely insane person, who is also the worst kind, one of those who believe they are doing absolute good that only they understand.

The film is a ping pong match between both actors and their characters, so that the other characters remain in the background. I admit that I like the character of the Sheriff with the nose of a detective, but it is a shame to see that after trying all conventional (and credible) means to find an answer to the writer's disappearance, he ends up obtaining the answer to his case in a rather implausible way and casual.

It is said that Misery It was King's response to some overzealous fans who were pressuring him about his future books and the truth is that I believe it, because in some moments in Annie with respect to Paul's books I have seen myself represented (specifically when he writes the beginning of the new Misery story and Annie criticizes it because it does not fit with the ending of the previous book) and that made me feel scared in another sense.

In general, Misery It is highly recommended. It's true that it starts out very slow, but when Annie's mood changes begin, things don't stop.

Curiosities about the film:

• The director of the film also plays the role of a helicopter pilot
• Kathy Bates won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her role in this film.
• Annie is much more aggressive and demented in the book, going so far as to amputate parts of Paul's body.
• In the novel Paul becomes addicted to the pills that Annie gives him, in the movie it doesn't seem like they cause any addiction.