Misery

Watching James Caan in a seemingly invincible role in Las Vegas transforming into an invalid in this movie seems so breathtaking and pitiful to watch. Here, we see James Caan at the mercy of a woman (played by Kathy Bates who will later win an Oscar for her role here). Misery is actually used as a metaphor here – misery representing James Caan’s character Paul Sheldon’s disbelief in his situation; and Misery being the name of a character that Paul Sheldon has written off. Kathy is a psychotic fan of Misery and to watch her being killed by Paul Sheldon seems unbearable for her. Thus, she desperately forces Paul Sheldon to resurrect her character and Paul Sheldon’s misery begins.

TRIVIA:

Jack Nicholson was offered the role of Paul Sheldon but passed because he wasn’t sure he wanted to do another movie based on one of Stephen King’s novels after what he had experienced with Stanley Kubrick on The Shining (1980)