Misery (1990)

Misery (1990)

Crime/Drama/Thriller

Based on Stephen King's novel Misery.
Paul Sheldon is a noted novelist, who is the author of successful romance novels with a character named Misery Chastain. Paul wants to focus on writing more serious stories, postponing his Misery career. He rides back from Colorado to his home in New York, he's caught in snowstorm and makes an accident with his car, a crash leaves him injured and unconcious in the car. He is saved by nurse, Annie Wilkes, who transports him to her remote home. Paul regains consciousness and realizes his legs are broken and has a dislocated shoulder. Annie starts claiming she is the biggest fan of Paul's books and after a little talk about his novels, Paul gives Annie his manuscript to read. When Annie finishes the script and rushed into Paul's room in rage, claiming he murdered Misery in his novel. He is left alone in the room after Annie throws a chair against the wall. Paul realizes that book about Misery has made Annie obsessed with it and tries to escape, but realizes Annie has locked him in the room. Annie pressures Paul to burn the manuscript she didn't like, he tries to talk her out of it, but finally gives up and lits the manuscript in fire. The next day Annie seems to be having a good mood and soon Paul faces
Annie's suprise - he needs to write a book where Misery doesn't die and it could be called Misery's Return. Getting along lasts for a short time, Paul pisses Annie with the choice of the paper. She gets pissed off and leaves to town to get a
new kind of paper for Paul to write on. At the same time Paul tries to get out of the room, he manages to open the door with Annie's hair-grip. Paul makes previous attempts of writing a new script before Annie is satisfied. On the night Paul finished the script, he and Annie are having dinner by the candle light. Paul secretly puts medications Annie gave him in her drink. Because of Annie's clumsiness, she destroys the glass of wine where Paul put the medication in. Few next days he keeps on writing to keep Annie happy. On the night when thunderstorm hits the town, Annie gives straight hints to Paul about her feelings towards him. She seems filled with sadness and leaves Paul alone in the house. He decides to look around the house, grabs a knife to protect him if necessary and finds a photo album of Annie's. Looking at pictures of her, he finds articles that Annie has deeply disturbed mind and was arrested for baby murders in the past. Paul keeps the knife close in case. Annie gives Paul a shot with syringe in the middle of the night, in the morning he wakes up, feeling he's being tied. Annie confesses she knows Paul has been out of his room and for punishment, she makes sure he can't go anywhere anymore and smashes his legs so he can't walk. Only sheriff in town, Buster gets a big clue about Sheldon's disappearance
and drives up to Wilkes house to check it out. But Buster gets killed by Annie with a shot in the back when he sees Paul injured on the floor. Paul talks Annie out of drugging him again and promises her to finish the book the way she likes and then they can die to give Misery an eternal life. Paul finishes the novel and when Annie comes to his room with a champagne glass. They get into huge physical fight, where Paul gets a bullet, but all the anger of staying in Annie's house, gives him an advantange and he knows Annie down and tries to escape with his life. Annie does everything to stop it. 18 months later Paul is on the meeting with his agent, where he confesses even thought Annie is dead, she still crosses his mind sometimes.
Produced by Steve Nicolaides, who produced romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally in 1989.
Directed by Rob Reiner, who directed family-fantasy movie The Princess Bride in 1987.
Screenplay written by Williams Goldman, who wrote screenplay for crime-drama movie Heat in 1986.

Cast: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall