The Film
Think girls can't be scary? Jerry Springer highlights aside, it's hard to imagine not being able to take down a woman when times get really tough. In Misery, however, the woman is built like Kathy Bates, and she comes packing a handgun, a needle and possibly the most cringe-worthy instrument of pain, the sledgehammer.
Bates won an Oscar for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes, number one fan and top of the list when it comes to scariest on-screen-female psychos. We also consider Misery to be one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King book, tying with The Shining and not counting the many others that were based on his shorter works.
James Caan also stars as Paul Sheldon, a cheesy romance novelist who gets into a snowy car accident.
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Instead of taking him to a hospital, Wilkes does what all good crazed fans do: takes him home, drugs him, cranks out the Liberace, and forces him to write the world's greatest romance novel. Yes, hell is a little something different for everyone, but this has to come close for many of you out there. If you don't think so, try watching the "hobbling" scene again.
The best thing about
Misery is that it doesn't rely on blood to make you squeamish. Yeah, there is some, but it's really all about the creepy chemistry director Rob Reiner has created between the film's two leads. Of course, there's also that sledgehammer thing again.
The Picture
Even after all these years, Misery is still scary. However, we didn't realize how fresh it would look on this 1.85:1 1080p transfer. There is a bit of grain, but overall, the film doesn't show any signs of age. The colors are on the darker side, with strong blacks. However, there is also an unbelievable amount of detail. The flecks of snow, the lines on Paul's face, the crazed glaze in Annie's eyes, and even Paul's charred manuscript all pop nicely and make the terror seem very real.
The Sound
The film's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix delivers bass that really kicks you in the teeth during some of the film's tense moments. All of the dialogue is projected nicely, but Annie's extremely frightening monologues (and there are a few of those) really stand out as some of the film's best sonic moments. Also, not to be forgotten is Marc Shaiman's score, which is very subtle, but really helps to convey the creepiness.
The Extras
MGM really cheaped out on the extras, here. There are two commentaries and seven featurettes, which would have been a hearty collection -- had any of them made it to the actual Blu-ray disc. All are on the included DVD version that's also included in the box. It's like they popped out the extra DVDs that they had in the warehouse and made a special edition. There's zero, zilch on the actual Blu-ray; not even commentary.
Insanity aside, there are plenty of tidbits that might make it worth getting up and swapping the discs. There's a 30-minute making-of, which includes all of the key people involved with the production (except for the late Richard Farnsworth). Everyone gushes about their love of the story and Stephen King, as well as favorite moments, casting and how this was a complete departure for the director we all know fondly as "Meathead" (at least those of us born in or before the early 1970s). Aside from that, there are four features about stalking, in case you're wondering if you have one, are one or just want to get to know one. It's funny; we never thought Annie was your typical stalker, although "Diagnosing Annie Wilkes," provides medical proof and classifies Annie as an amalgamation of every psycho under the sun.
Final Thoughts
Almost 20 years later, Annie Wilkes still carries the torch for female psychos everywhere. She's creepy, kooky, and extremely well played by Bates. Caan is no slouch either. Watching this typical tough guy (Sonny Corleone!) being held captive is almost painful to experience -- but in a good way. Despite the poor extras, we'd recommend Misery on Blu-ray because the story is just so good as are the audio and video of the transfer. God bless Stephen King and his evil brain.
Product Details
- Actors: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth
- Director: Rob Reiner
- Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish), DTS 5.1 (French)
- Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Region: A
- Number of Discs: 2
- Rating: R
- Studio: MGM/20th Century Fox
- Blu-ray Disc Release Date: September 15, 2009
- Run Time: 107 minutes
- List Price: $24.99
- Extras:
- Standard-Definition DVD
- Feature Commentary by Director Rob Reiner
- Feature Commentary by Screenwriter William Goldman
- Misery Loves Company
- Marc Shaiman's Musical Misery Tour
- Diagnosing Annie Wilkes
- Advice for the Stalked
- Profile of a Stalker
- Celebrity Stalkers
- Anti-Stalking Law
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Original Season's Greetings Trailer
