Review of Misery (1990) by Dawdlingpoet — 20 Nov 2021

This is certainly a tense and sinister film, very much a psychological thriller, more than a horror film, in my opinion, although I wouldn't recommend it to the particularly squeamish but it's not entirely choc full of jump scares or constant gore. I suppose the jump scares, when they come, are a bit more impactful though, due to this, if that makes sense but I'd classify it as primarily psychological based. I found the characterisations probably the best aspect of the film, with great performances from both James Caan and Kathy Bates. Paul's frustration and desperation to leave his confines makes for quite a gripping watch, although there are some parts of the plot which may be a little slow moving for some people's taste. I suppose as time moves on, some film viewers may be more impatient than those of the past perhaps. The topic/theme of obsessive fans is, if anything, more relevant or contemporary than ever in the age of social media, I reckon and so it makes for a somewhat thought provoking watch as well. The presence of the typewriter made me think of The Shining (also based on a Stephen King novel), only in this instance its not the villain who uses it, rather the victim.

This is certainly a decent film that's, as I say, well worth a watch and so I would recommend it, yes.