‘Misery’ is one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work. It is a fantastic piece that’s propelled by two amazing lead performances. James Caan and Kathy Bates are both brilliant.
Caan’s portrayal of Paul Sheldon was fantastic – from his range of facial expressions to internal dialogue. Bates’ performance was simply a tour de force and she was perfectly casted. Moreover, Bates was the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress in a horror or thriller for ‘Misery’. She was masterful in her execution as the villain, and she demonstrated a common theme for Stephen King stories: that real monsters don’t always look creepy with fangs or horns but are instead regular people who either are or become insane.
This film has masterful direction by Rob Reiner, striking cinematography and a brilliant screenplay. ‘Misery’ excels at putting the viewer into the protagonist’s shoes and it allows one to empathize and really feel his pain and desperation. The film is incredibly suspenseful, especially in a few of its stand-out scenes.
It grips you as soon as it opens, and it doesn’t let you go until it’s credits have rolled.
Overall, Misery is a superb film and should be revisited every Halloween season!
