Rated R
Starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, James Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall
Directed by Rob Reiner
The Story:
Novelist Paul Sheldon (Caan) crashes his car in a blizzard and is near death. Luckily, his # 1 fan, Annie (Bates) rescued him. As she nurses him back to health, she begins reading his latest novel in the Misery franchise. However, when she discovers that this is the end of the line for her favorite character, things take a dark, harrowing turn.
Another of the great Stephen King adaptations, it seems his non-horror films translate better on the screen.
The psychological terror of a fan-gone-crazy ratchets the tension up to 11 in this film.
Looking at her career, I would say this was the point when Kathy Bates became a star. She literally goes from sweet, but kind of creepy, to sadistic mad-woman in the flip of a switch.
Don't get me started on the scene with the sledgehammer.
That scene alone has kept this film off my radar and out of my library for almost 25 years.
This also helped cement Rob Reiner as a director of serious films, not just comedies.
It holds up well after all these years,
Not sure when I'll ever venture down this dark path again though!
:D
Final Grade: A-
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I waited nearly 25 years...man, that scene is still rough to watch. ::shudder::
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