A critically acclaimed Rob Reiner film, lauded as a ‘masterpiece’ and ‘chilling,’ is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.
Based on the novel of the same name by horror icon Stephen King, Misery follows novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan), who is rescued following a serious car crash by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates).
She claims to be his biggest fan and brings Paul to her remote cabin to recover, where her obsession takes a dark turn after she discovers Paul’s plan to kill off her favourite character in his novels.
Misery is often hailed as one of the greatest adaptations of King’s work, winning Bates the Academy Award for best actress, which also made it the only film based on a King novel to win an Oscar.
It was a huge box office hit and received acclaim from critics and the public alike, raking in $61.3million (£45.5m) worldwide.
Misery holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus reading: ‘Elevated by standout performances from James Caan and Kathy Bates, this taut and frightening film is one of the best Stephen King adaptations to date.’
In their review, TIME Magazine wrote: ‘Popular moviemaking — elegantly economical, artlessly artful — doesn’t get much better than this.’
Similarly, Empire said: ‘From start to harrowing finish, it is blissfully apparent that Rob Reiner can indeed turn his hand to virtually anything.’
The Times was among the publications heaping praise on Bates, writing: ‘The genius of Bates’s performance is the delicate balance that can tip without warning from sweetly cheerful to psychotic rage.’
The Guardian added: ‘The film hasn’t any depth to speak of, but is consistently shrewd enough not to go totally obvious ways. And the audacity in casting Kathy Bates as the dotty fan pays considerable dividends.’
Radio Times said: ‘While not a true-blue horror movie, Reiner’s adept exercise in chilling claustrophobia nevertheless contains numerous jolts.’
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Misery’s addition to Amazon Prime follows the tragic death of its director, Reiner, alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, last year.
The couple was found dead at their home in Los Angeles, with their causes of death revealed to be ‘multiple sharp force injuries’ in a ‘homicide’.
Their son, Nick, was later charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Paying tribute to Reiner, Bates said that the director ‘changed the course of her life’ thanks to casting her in Misery.
‘I’m horrified hearing this terrible news. Absolutely devastated,’ she said in a statement to Deadline.
‘I loved Rob. He was brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist. He also fought courageously for his political beliefs. He changed the course of my life.
Of his wife, she said: ‘Michelle was a gifted photographer. She shot my beautiful photos for the Misery campaign. My heart breaks for them both. My thoughts are with their family.’
Misery is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video
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