Misery

Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is an author who has coasted on the success of writing a romance novel series, but finally decides to end the storyline so he can pursue more serious writing. After finishing his manuscript, he is driving through a blizzard and gets into an accident which renders him unconscious. Waking up in the idyllic home of former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), Paul is lucky to have a haven to convalesce – and it just so happens that Annie is a big fan of his work. His number one fan.

As Annie aids Paul’s recuperation, he decides to let her read the manuscript to the last book of the romance series, but this causes Annie great distress. Before Paul realises it, he is no longer a patient - he is a captive.

Bates and Caan’s scenes are full of suspense as the two play a great game of acting volley. Whilst Bates gets to play her part unhinged, Caan has to tune into a subtler act – on first-impressions we do not necessarily like him, but then we cannot help but root for his survival.

James Caan was not the first, or second, or even tenth choice to play the role of Paul Sheldon in this 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery, but it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing this character.