What genre is misery by Stephen King?
Misery (novel) Misery is an American psychological horror thriller novel written by Stephen King and first published by Viking Press on June 8, 1987. The novel's narrative is based on the relationship of its two main characters – the popular writer Paul Sheldon and his psychotic fan Annie Wilkes.
What is the movie Misery about?
Adapted for the big screen in 1990 by director Rob Reiner, "Misery" sees Sheldon (James Caan) driven off the road during a blizzard, only to be rescued by Annie Wilkes ( Kathy Bates ), who happens to be, as she puts it, Sheldon's biggest fan.
Who is the author of the book Misery?
When King was writing Misery in 1985 he planned the book to be released under the pseudonym Richard Bachman but the identity of the pseudonym was discovered before the release of the book. The novel focuses on Paul Sheldon, a writer famous for Victorian-era romance novels involving the character of Misery Chastain.
How much money did the movie Misery make?
Three recordings by Liberace, Annie Wilkes's favorite musician, are featured in the film, as is "Shotgun" by Junior Walker and the All-Stars, which plays before Paul's car accident. Misery grossed $10,076,834 on its opening weekend, finishing second at the box office behind Home Alone. It eventually finished with $61 million domestically.
Who was the director of Misery?
Who handed over Misery to the director?
Why did Warren Beatty pass on Misery?
Why was James Caan at the bottom of the cast list?
Who played Annie Wilkes in Misery?
Did Rob Reiner make James Caan stay in bed?
Was Kathy Bates violent?
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About this website
What is the movie Misery based on?
Misery is a 1990 American psychological thriller film directed by Rob Reiner, based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth, and Frances Sternhagen.
Was Misery based off a true story?
Although the events of "Misery" aren't ripped from any real-life ordeal, the book itself (which King listed as one of his favorites during an interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert") does appear to have been spawned from the writer's personal demons.
Is Annie Wilkes a real person?
In his commentary on the film available on the DVD, director Rob Reiner notes that Wilkes is loosely based on that of Genene Jones, a nurse who is believed to have killed as many as 50 children who were in her care over a two-year period.
Who is Misery based on?
Misery is an American psychological horror thriller novel written by Stephen King and first published by Viking Press on June 8, 1987. The novel's narrative is based on the relationship of its two main characters – the romance novelist Paul Sheldon and his deranged self-proclaimed number one fan Annie Wilkes.
What did Annie Wilkes do?
Annie has a lot to run from: She's been murdering people since she was 11. In her youth, Annie killed her father, former neighbors, a college roommate, and a hitchhiker. Then, she used her nursing gig as an avenue for murder. Annie would “put down” elderly people and babies.
How long was he trapped in Misery?
The shoot required James Caan to stay in bed for 15 weeks Due to the nature of his character's imprisonment, filming Misery meant that James Caan had to lie in bed for 15 weeks of the film's shoot.
Is Misery the pig still alive?
And his fans are in for a shock: He has killed Misery off at the end of the soon-to-be released final novel in the series. At the beginning of Misery, Paul has also just finished writing a new novel about thieves, which he believes is his best work yet. He is in Colorado, where he always travels to write his books.
How does Annie know that Paul has been out of his room?
When Annie returns, she claims that she has left her hairs strung across the house and has found them broken, knowing that Paul has gotten out. To stop him from getting out again, she chops his right foot off with an axe and cauterizes the wound with a blowtorch.
Is Annie Wilkes a Yandere?
I'll keep the reply short. After reading the wiki for Misery, Annie Wilkes is not a Yandere.
Is Annie Wilkes a serial killer?
As Sheldon discovers, Annie Wilkes is also a serial killer. He discovers that she has a scrapbook detailing all her kills — including the mysterious deaths of infants who were in her charge as a nurse — and that she intends to kill him in a murder/suicide.
What is Stephen King's best book?
It1986The Shining1977The Stand1978Carrie1974Misery1987Pet Sematary1983Stephen King/Books
What represents Annie Wilkes?
Annie Wilkes is a fascinating character who can be read in many ways. Stephen King has claimed that she is a metaphor for his addiction to cocaine; she has been analyzed as a female representative of the gothic villain; and feminist critics have noted that she reflects King's misogyny.
How old is Paul Sheldon Misery?
forty-two years oldPaul Sheldon He's a "tall man, forty-two years old," twice divorced, and an alcoholic. Paul has a "vivid imagination" (56), which he's used to write a series of best-selling romance novels centered on Misery Chastain, "darling of the dump bins and sweetheart of the supermarkets" (62).
How did Kathy Bates prepare for Misery?
Because it was her first starring part in a movie where she would be one of two people on the screen virtually the entire duration, Bates brought her theater training in with her as it pertained to Annie's character development, as well as rehearsing scenes multiple times to make sure she got it all right and then ...
What is Novril?
Novril is a a fictional medication made up for the story. It's described in the book as a powerful, highly addictive analgesic, the main ingredient being codeine. It comes in pill form and is bitter to taste. In the film, Novril is a capsule and is tasteless, making it easier for Paul to slip into her wine.
What character was Lauren Bacall in Misery?
Annie WilkesKathy BatesPaul SheldonJames CaanMarcia SindellLauren BacallAnchormanThomas BrunelleVirginiaFrances SternhagenReporter #3Gregory SnegoffMisery/Characters
Who was the director of Misery?
Rob Reiner was the only director Stephen King trusted with Misery. Michael Stewart/Getty Images. Stephen King's novels are deep and expansive, often with huge casts of characters, all of whom have rich internal lives that King explores through each individual.
Who handed over Misery to the director?
But with Reiner's name in the mix, King handed over Misery to the director's accomplished hands. To this day, Misery remains one of King 's favorite film adaptations, and he was super into the first screening of the film .
Why did Warren Beatty pass on Misery?
But when it came down to brass tacks, Warren Beatty ended up having to ultimately pass on Misery because of scheduling conflicts with his film adaptation of the Dick Tracy comics that he ended up directing, as well as starring in. Funnily enough, eventual Paul Sheldon actor James Caan has a small role in Dick Tracy, too.
Why was James Caan at the bottom of the cast list?
James Caan struggled with alcohol abuse on set. James Caan was at the bottom of the casting list for Misery for many good reasons, the biggest of which were his substance abuse problems that eventually led to severe financial troubles, along with great personal loss.
Who played Annie Wilkes in Misery?
Misery was Kathy Bates' first leading role, as well as her first Oscar nomination and win for her marvelous and nuanced turn as a woman on the edge who pushes herself over. Then-Hollywood bad boy James Caan followed through with a redemptive performance that still resonates today, and Rob Reiner's horror-thriller debut secured itself as one of the horror classics of modern film history. Hulu's Castle Rock explored Annie Wilkes' backstory in 2019, but the 1990 adaptation still remains iconic. From the could've-beens to the film's unique production style, here's the untold truth of Misery.
Did Rob Reiner make James Caan stay in bed?
Reiner made Caan actually stay in bed, even between takes. While filming Misery, Rob Reiner treated the whole thing like a play, sort of like Alfred Hitchcock would, which meant he decided to ramp up the tension and frustration by not allowing James Caan to get out of bed and blow off steam between takes.
Was Kathy Bates violent?
Speaking with Today, Bates said she found the levels of violence directed at her in particular during the final confrontation a lot to handle, and Caan has also noted that Kathy Bates was an extremely anti-violent person in general, so she had to go to quite a dark side for Misery.
What does Delphine try to convince L.?
Delphine tries to convince L. that “there’s no such thing as truth. Truth doesn’t exist.”. L. doesn’t let up. But even a story based on real events is merely “a clumsy, incomplete attempt to get closer to something ungraspable,” Delphine says.
What does Annie Wilkes feel about Paul?
Like L., Annie Wilkes feels strongly about what Paul should and shouldn’t be writing. He’s made his career with a series of bodice rippers about one “Misery Chastain” that Annie likes very much. But now Paul wants to be a “real” writer. When we first meet him, Paul is finishing a manuscript.
Why doesn't Paul ask Annie what she does?
He doesn’t ask her anything because he doesn’t need to ask her anything. She loves his crappy novels; therefore, she’s not worth knowing.
What do writers fetishize?
Writers fetishize all sorts of things. Writers who refuse to work with any but one brand of pen, or at any but one time of day, or without lighting candles, or playing music, fetishize their process. Others fetishize their fears. Some embed these fetishes into the work itself. Take Stephen King’s Misery, for example, ...
Why does Paul hate Annie?
Paul’s battle with Annie is an internal battle made manifest. He hates her because he hates himself; he holds her in contempt because he holds himself in contempt.
What does Paul smoke?
When we first meet him, Paul is finishing a manuscript. He has a ritual for these occasions: He smokes a single cigarette and drinks a glass of Dom Perignon Champagne. He produces only one copy of the manuscript and then stashes it in the same leather satchel he’s been carrying for decades.
Can Delphine write anything?
She can’t write anything, can’t go near her computer. She can’t write a grocery list. Delphine is middle aged, divorced, and the mother of two teenage children who will soon leave home for college. She has a lover, François, and a wide circle of friends.
What is the book Misery's Return?
As Paul writes, the text includes excerpts of his new book, a macabre story in which it is found that Misery was buried alive while comatose.
What is the name of the book that Stephen King wrote about the relationship between the two main characters?
Misery (novel) Misery. (novel) This article is about the novel. For other uses, see Misery (disambiguation). Misery is an American psychological horror thriller novel written by Stephen King and first published by Viking Press on June 8, 1987. The novel's narrative is based on the relationship of its two main characters – ...
What does Annie do to Paul's manuscript?
Upon Annie's return, she forces a weakened Paul to burn the manuscript for Fast Cars in exchange for his painkillers. Annie sets up an office for Paul – consisting of an antique Royal typewriter with a non-functional N-key, writing paper and a wheelchair – for the purpose of writing a new Misery novel that will bring the character back from the dead. Biding his time and likening himself to Sheherezade, Paul begins a new book, Misery's Return, and allows Annie to read the work in progress and fill in the missing N's. As Paul writes, the text includes excerpts of his new book, a macabre story in which it is found that Misery was buried alive while comatose.
What happened to Misery's child?
He is caught in a snowstorm in a remote section of Colorado and crashes his car. He awakens to find that he has been rescued by Annie Wilkes, a local former nurse who is a devoted fan of the Misery series. She keeps Paul in her guest bedroom and refuses to take him to the hospital despite his severely broken legs, and nurses him herself using her illicit stash of codeine -based painkillers, to which Paul quickly becomes addicted; Annie withholds pills in order to threaten and manipulate Paul. She begins reading Misery's Child and coerces permission to read the Fast Cars manuscript, but disapproves of the darker subject matter and profanity. Paul soon assesses that Annie is mentally unstable: she is prone to trailing off into catatonic episodes and has bouts of unreasonable rage. When she learns of Misery's death, she leaves Paul alone in her house for over two days, depriving him of food, water, and painkillers.
Why did fans reject the Eyes of the Dragon?
Many fans rejected The Eyes of the Dragon because it was an epic fantasy book, with virtually none of the horror that initially made his reputation. Paul Sheldon feeling chained to the Misery books by his fans was a metaphor for King's feeling chained to horror fiction.
How does Paul escape his room?
Paul manages to escape his room using his wheelchair on several occasions, searching for more painkillers and exploring the house. He discovers a scrapbook full of newspaper clippings that reveal Annie to be a serial killer; her victims included a neighboring family, her own father, her college roommate, a hitchhiker who previously stayed at her house, and, while she worked as a head nurse, many elderly or critically injured patients and 11 infants, the last resulting in her standing trial but being acquitted in Denver. Annie reveals that she knows Paul has been leaving his room, then punishes him by cutting off his foot with an axe and cauterizing his ankle with a blowtorch, "hobbling" him. Months pass; after Paul complains that more typewriter keys including the "t" and "e" have broken and refuses to tell Annie how the novel ends before he has written it. As a punishment, she cuts off his thumb with an electric knife .
How did Annie kill the police officer?
A state trooper arrives at Annie's house in search of Paul, and Annie murders the officer by running him over with her riding lawnmower. His disappearance results in attention on Annie from law enforcement and the media. Annie relocates Paul to the basement and it becomes clear that she does not intend to let him live. After Misery's Return is finished, Paul lights a decoy copy of the manuscript on fire, which Annie attempts to save. Paul throws the typewriter at Annie and engages her in a violent fight where he manages to escape the bedroom and lock the door with Annie still inside. Paul then hides and alerts the police when they return in search of the dead officer. Annie is found dead from her injuries in the barn, apparently having escaped through the bedroom window and was on her way to murder Paul with a chainsaw.
What is the movie Misery about?
Misery is a 1990 American psychological horror thriller film directed by Rob Reiner, based on Stephen King 's 1987 novel of the same name, starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth, and Frances Sternhagen about an obsessive fan who holds an author captive and forces him to write a story.
Why did Paul write Misery?
Paul replies that he wrote the novel for himself as a way to help deal with the horrors of his captivity. Marcia asks if he would consider a non-fiction book about his captivity, but Paul—who suffers psychological trauma from the experience—declines. Paul then sees Annie approaching him, only to realize that he is hallucinating. In actuality, the figure he sees is a waitress, who tells Paul that she is his number one fan, causing Paul to meekly reply "That's very sweet of you."
What does Annie discover about Misery?
Soon after, Annie reads the latest Misery novel, discovers that Misery dies at the end of the book, and flies into a rage. She reveals to Paul that nobody knows where he is and locks him in his room.
What happened to Paul in Misery?
Paul regains consciousness and finds himself bedridden with broken legs and a dislocated shoulder. Annie claims to be his "number one fan" and talks at length about him and his novels. Out of gratitude, Paul lets Annie read his new manuscript. While feeding him, she is angered by the profanity in his new work, but she apologizes. Soon after, Annie reads the latest Misery novel, discovers that Misery dies at the end of the book, and flies into a rage, revealing to Paul that nobody knows where he is.
What does Annie tell Paul to do when he finds Paul drugged?
When he finds Paul drugged in the basement, Annie fatally shoots Buster with a shotgun; she tells Paul that they must die together. He agrees, on the condition that he must finish the novel in order to "give Misery back to the world.". He conceals a can of lighter fluid in his pocket.
What happened to Annie when she burned her manuscript?
As Annie rushes to save it, Paul strikes her with the typewriter and they engage in a violent struggle, with Paul stuffing her mouth full of the burned novel in retaliation, and suffering a gunshot wound to the shoulder from Annie's revolver. Paul manages to trip Annie, causing her to hit her head on the typewriter. Paul crawls out of the room, but Annie suddenly attacks him once again. Paul grabs a metal doorstop and viciously bashes her in the face, finally killing her.
When was Misery released?
(August 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Nelson Entertainment and its parent company, New Line Home Video first released Misery on VHS on July 11, 1991, and New Line re-released it in 1992, after Nelson went defunct.
Who wrote Misery?
She later called herself “stupid” for her decision. The Princess Bride, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and All the President's Men screenwriter William Goldman wrote Misery with then unknown but respected theater actress Kathy Bates in mind.
When did Misery come out?
The theatrical version of Misery premiered in 2012, and just debuted on Broadway starring Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf.
Why did Reiner tell Caan to do the scenes again?
All of the scenes he shot that day were unuseable. Reiner told Caan he had to do the scenes again because there was “a problem at the lab.” When Caan learned it had nothing to do with labs, he offered to cover the money he lost the studio.
Who played Annie in Misery?
Based on a 1987 Stephen King novel, Misery starred Kathy Bates in an Oscar-winning performance as Annie Wilkes, a nurse and huge fan of author Paul Sheldon, portrayed by James Caan. When Annie finds Sheldon after a car accident, she takes the author into her home and holds him hostage, torturing him and preparing to kill him once she discovers ...
What scene did Bates change to?
Bates was initially disappointed that the axe scene was changed to the sledgehammer.
Who was the director of Misery?
Rob Reiner was the only director Stephen King trusted with Misery. Michael Stewart/Getty Images. Stephen King's novels are deep and expansive, often with huge casts of characters, all of whom have rich internal lives that King explores through each individual.
Who handed over Misery to the director?
But with Reiner's name in the mix, King handed over Misery to the director's accomplished hands. To this day, Misery remains one of King 's favorite film adaptations, and he was super into the first screening of the film .
Why did Warren Beatty pass on Misery?
But when it came down to brass tacks, Warren Beatty ended up having to ultimately pass on Misery because of scheduling conflicts with his film adaptation of the Dick Tracy comics that he ended up directing, as well as starring in. Funnily enough, eventual Paul Sheldon actor James Caan has a small role in Dick Tracy, too.
Why was James Caan at the bottom of the cast list?
James Caan struggled with alcohol abuse on set. James Caan was at the bottom of the casting list for Misery for many good reasons, the biggest of which were his substance abuse problems that eventually led to severe financial troubles, along with great personal loss.
Who played Annie Wilkes in Misery?
Misery was Kathy Bates' first leading role, as well as her first Oscar nomination and win for her marvelous and nuanced turn as a woman on the edge who pushes herself over. Then-Hollywood bad boy James Caan followed through with a redemptive performance that still resonates today, and Rob Reiner's horror-thriller debut secured itself as one of the horror classics of modern film history. Hulu's Castle Rock explored Annie Wilkes' backstory in 2019, but the 1990 adaptation still remains iconic. From the could've-beens to the film's unique production style, here's the untold truth of Misery.
Did Rob Reiner make James Caan stay in bed?
Reiner made Caan actually stay in bed, even between takes. While filming Misery, Rob Reiner treated the whole thing like a play, sort of like Alfred Hitchcock would, which meant he decided to ramp up the tension and frustration by not allowing James Caan to get out of bed and blow off steam between takes.
Was Kathy Bates violent?
Speaking with Today, Bates said she found the levels of violence directed at her in particular during the final confrontation a lot to handle, and Caan has also noted that Kathy Bates was an extremely anti-violent person in general, so she had to go to quite a dark side for Misery.
