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Misery
1990 107 min United States of America R 18+
★8.4
Drama, Thriller
Director: Rob Reiner
🎭 Based on
«Misery»
byStephen King
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. Her obsession takes a dark turn when she holds him captive in her remote Colorado home and forces him to write back to life the popular literary character he killed off.
Budget:
$20M
US Gross:
$61.28M
Worldwide:
$61.3M
Starring
James Caan
Actor
Kathy Bates
Actor
Richard Farnsworth
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1991
— Best Actress (Drama)
Academy Awards 1991
— Best Actress
Saturn Awards 1992
— Best Horror Film
Saturn Awards 1992
— Best Actor
Saturn Awards 1992
— Best Actress
Saturn Awards 1992
— Best Screenplay
Academy Awards 1991
— Best Actress
Key opinion
Misery is widely regarded as one of the most successful and compelling adaptations of Stephen King's work. The film derives its strength from the taut psychological power struggle between its two leads and a standout, transformative performance by Kathy Bates.
| Acting | Kathy Bates delivers a masterful, multi-dimensional performance that convincingly captures the terrifying oscillation between pleasant charm and sociopathic rage. | |
| Direction | The film effectively builds sustained, claustrophobic tension through its isolated setting and the psychological deadlock between the writer and his captor. | |
| Acting | James Caan provides a grounded and persuasive portrayal of an author struggling with helplessness and physical pain, serving as the perfect foil to Bates. | |
| Adaptation | Opinions on the adaptation's fidelity are split; while many praise it as a superb representation of the source material's core spirit, purists argue that omitting the book's more visceral violence and specific character details weakens the impact. | |
| Emotion | Views on the film's genre intensity are divided; some find it a gripping and terrifying thriller, while others classify it more as a slow-burn, suspenseful drama lacking traditional horror scares. |