Misery
Rob Reiner
(1990)
After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. Her obsession takes a dark turn when she holds him captive in her remote Colorado home and forces him to write back to life the popular literary character he killed off.
Cast
Crew
Hook
The most dangerous space in Misery is inside someone's head. Psychological deterioration, obsession, and the unreliable nature of perception combine into something quietly devastating.
Identity
Kathy Bates won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes, becoming the first performer to win in that category for a role in a horror film. Beyond Bates's Oscar win, the film received nominations for its score by Marc Shaiman.
Collector Focus
Kathy Bates' Annie Wilkes is one of horror's great human monsters — methodical, delusional, terrifyingly specific in her obsession. The hobbling scene lodged permanently in cultural memory. Bates' Oscar-winning performance and the Stephen King source material give it a literary credibility that sustains long-term collector interest.
Context
Directed by Rob Reiner and adapted from King's 1987 novel by William Goldman, Misery was produced on a budget of approximately $20 million and shot largely on location in the mountains of California, which doubled convincingly for the Colorado setting. The film more than proved its commercial viability at the box office, grossing over $61 million.
