Film: Misery

The first time I've ever seen this film, and what have been doing all my life? It's superb. It's another one of Stephen King's ingeniously simple stories that exposes a basic human fear and twists on it like a raw nerve until we can't stand it any more. It's about vulnerability and helplessness and obsession, and is over-whelmingly chilling, with a performance from Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes that could, in the wrong hands, have spoiled the whole show, but that is played to perfection, the perfect balance of lovable grin and boiling rage that makes her unpredictable and terrifying.


James Caan as Wilkes' prisoner is a picture of panic and vulnerability, and I will be haunted by the look on his face as Annie readies herself to hobble him by smashing his feet to pieces with a sledgehammer. The script is as tight as a drum, as you would expect from William Goldman, and Rob Reiner's direction is slick, keeping the film ticking over at a good pace and ratcheting up the tension when necessary. It's all made to look easy, which is a sure fire sign that it's been done well.

The jems in the cap though are Silver Creek Sheriff, Buster, and his wife/deputy Virginia, whose relationship provides an amazing love and humour to the otherwise dark story. A brilliant cinematic couple, truly adorable and witty, but also a vital part of the plot.