Misery (1990)

After a famous author is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writers:

Stephen King (novel), William Goldman (screenplay)

Stars:

James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth

Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Caan	...	Paul Sheldon
Kathy Bates	...	Annie Wilkes
Richard Farnsworth	...	Buster
Frances Sternhagen	...	Virginia
Lauren Bacall	...	Marcia Sindell
Graham Jarvis	...	Libby
Jerry Potter	...	Pete
Thomas Brunelle	...	Anchorman (as Tom Brunelle)
June Christopher	...	Anchorwoman
Julie Payne	...	Reporter #1
Archie Hahn	...	Reporter #2 (as Archie Hahn III)
Gregory Snegoff	...	Reporter #3
Wendy Bowers	...	Waitress
Misery the Pig	...	Herself

Storyline

Best-selling novelist Paul Sheldon is on his way home from his Colorado hideaway after completing his latest book, when he crashes his car in a freak blizzard. Paul is critically injured, but is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes, Paul's "number one fan", who takes Paul back to her remote house in the mountains (without bothering to tell anybody). Unfortunately for Paul, Annie is also a headcase. When she discovers that Paul has killed off the heroine in her favorite novels, her reaction leaves Paul shattered (literally)...

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Plot Keywords:

obsessed fan | female psychopath | typewriter | broken leg | brutality | 

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Taglines:

The Tide Has Come.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 November 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Misery

Filming Locations:

Truckee, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,076,834, 2 December 1990, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$61,276,872

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was William Goldman who picked the then-unknown Kathy Bates for Annie Wilkes. She would go on the win the Academy Award for Best Actress for the film.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie when Paul finishes his book, a bottle of Moet et Chandon is shown chilling. At the end of the movie when he finishes and tells Annie he will need three things, she says the cigarette, matches, and Dom Perignon, which she pronounces incorrectly, but he concurs.

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Quotes

Sheriff John T. 'Buster' McCain: [Reading from one of the Misery books] There is a judge higher than that of man, I will be judged by Him.

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Crazy Credits

Misery the Pig - Herself

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Connections

Referenced in Supernatural: Defending Your Life (2011)

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Soundtracks

SHOTGUN
Performed by Jr. Walker and the All Stars (as Junior Walker & The Allstars)
Courtesy of Motown Record Company, L.P.
Written by Junior Walker (as Autry DeWalt)
Published by Stone Agate Music
A division of Jobete Music Co., Inc.

User Reviews

Suspenseful!

Misery has to be the best adaptation of a Stephen King novel. A close runner up is Stand By Me, but for suspense and tension that just gets tighter and tighter, watch Misery. Kathy Bates can go from nice and cheerful to downright crazy like someone turning on a light switch. While watching James Caan suffer through the torture that Bates puts him through, you can't help but sympathize with the guy. Rob Reiner presents us with the problem, and he slowly escalates the tension and the dread that creeps over the movie. Even though the book was different in the "hobbling" process, Annie Wilkes' method of hobbling still gives me the chills whenever I watch it.