• Misery (1990)

    After a serious car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who claims to be his biggest fan. Annie brings him to her remote cabin to recover, where her obsession takes a dark turn when she discovers Sheldon is killing off her favorite character from his novels. As Sheldon devises plans for escape, Annie grows increasingly controlling, even violent, as she forces the author to shape his writing to suit her twisted fantasies.

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Misery
75
metacriticBased on 23 Critics
86
Based on 38 Users

Release Date: October 31st, 1990

DVD Release Date: December 22nd, 1998

R |1 hr 47 min

Plot Summary

After a serious car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who claims to be his biggest fan. Annie brings him to her remote cabin to recover, where her obsession takes a dark turn when she discovers Sheldon is killing off her favorite character from his novels. As Sheldon devises plans for escape, Annie grows increasingly controlling, even violent, as she forces the author to shape his writing to suit her twisted fantasies.

Cast: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth, Lauren Bacall, Graham Jarvis, J.T. Walsh, June Christopher

Director: Rob Reiner

Genres: Thriller , Horror

Production Co: Nelson Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment

Distributors: Image Entertainment Inc., Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.

Keywords: 1980s , Rivalry , Escape , Tense ,

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 100
    Mick LaSalleSan Francisco Chronicle

    In a way, Misery is a ghoul comedy. But it's more than that, because it's genuinely, consistently scary. With his enthusiastic direction -- the cutting, the odd angles, the unexpected timing -- Rob Reiner takes what might have been a static set-up, a couple of people talking in a room, and makes it harrowing. [30 Nov 1990, p.E1]

  • 90
    IGN

    Misery offers a first-rate Hitchcockian thriller filled with amazing performances, solid direction and masterful writing. show more

  • 88
    Jay ScottThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)

    It does what it desires to do - it suspensefully squeezes the sweat out of the pores - but the salty stench it leaves behind in the persona of Annie Wilkes is a residue that transcends its intentions. [30 Nov 1990]

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

Awards

Winner Actress in a Leading Role
Oscars Academy Awards (1990)
Winner Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Golden Globes (1991)