Ryan Zamarripa
English 1301
Julie Ratliff
4/6/2015
Review on Misery
In the thriller/drama movie Misery, Paul played by James Cann and Annie played by Kathy Bates is about a talented writer and a crazy number one fan who is obsessed with the book.
Paul is a popular writer that has written and published around nine books. He was finished with his tenth book and decides to make his way to New York City that same day to get his book published. Without knowing he sets off into the road which later came across a blizzard which caused him to drive off the road and wreck. He was saved by a woman named Annie Wilks. Early morning the next day he wakes up in pain and Annie introduces herself to him as his number one fan. Paul is flattered by her remarks on how talented he is at writing.
As the time passes Paul starts to see what Annie really is like as she unveils her crazy self. While the people that know Paul are concerned about his disappearance. The sheriff later finds his car buried under the snow but was presumed dead since he had gotten out of the car. Back at Annie’s she introduces her pet pig named Misery to Paul, she then explains why she named her pig Misery. She first started reading Misery when her husband left her because reading the book helped her block her from the problems she had to face outside. When she purchased one of Paul’s newest books she had started reading it but later that night she went into his room angry asking why he killed Misery in the book then angrily started to shake the bed violently.
She goes into the bedroom and forces him to burn his newly written book just so he can bring Misery back from the dead. Paul stops taking his pain killers because he thinks they are not helping him at all. He decides to save the medicine powder from the pills in a paper envelope. Annie buys him a used typewriter and the materials necessary to begin writing the new book. He asks Annie to get him some better typing paper because the current paper smudges easily. During the time she is gone to get him the paper, he leaves his room and tries to look for a way out. While roaming the house he finds evidence that justifies her mental illness.
He tries to open all the doors that lead outside but are locked from the outside and has no choice but to get back to his room because he hears Annie arrive. Annie finds Paul covered in sweat and he lies that it’s because of his pain. He decides to obey Annie and writes more books to her consent. Once finished with the book he had to rewrite he calls in Annie to let her know he had finished and as she revised the book she was speechless and excited about what he had written. He calls for a celebration and invites Annie to dinner, with delight she accepts. They are ready to eat when Paul asks Annie if she has any candles to add as a center piece. While gone Paul decides to pour some of the pain killer powder in her drink. When she comes back they begin with a toast but Annie accidentally spills her drink and ruins Paul’s plans.
As the time passes Paul is still writing and healing from his wounds and broken bones. He has plans of escaping but are ruined when Annie finds out a figurine was misplaced. She finds out Paul had been out of his room so she decides to punish him. She punished him by smashing both of his feet which broke them.
Sheriff Buster finds out Annie has been acting a little peculiar and finds some old records from her past that justifies her mental illness. The sheriff decides to visit Annie, when he gets there Annie hurried and poked Paul with a stabilizer so he would go unconscious and carried him to the basement. Buster searches the house but finds nothing out of the ordinary up until he is out the door he hears a noise from inside and decides to go check it out. Upon reaching the basement he finds Paul and without chance Annie strikes and shoots him from the back. Annie is determined to die alongside with Paul but he manages to persuade her into giving him time to finish the ending of the book. Annie agrees and as she waits patiently for him to finish Paul thinks of a way to escape her. Upon the completion Paul asks for three things champagne, a cigarette and a match. They are important because every time Paul finishes up a book he celebrates with a cigarette and a glass of champagne. As Annie fetches another glass to share his accomplishment, Paul takes another toll and lights the ending of the paper on fire. Annie quickly tries to extinguish the flame when Paul knocks her with the typewriter. After a while of struggling to escape from Annie, Paul reaches out and knocks her out with a paper weight.
He finally gets rescued and finds himself back in New York City where he discusses his new book he is going to write about what he experienced back at Annie’s house. He is now facing a bad experience with his number one fans.