It's every struggling and aspiring writer's dream to have a number one fan - for one thing it shows that they've succeeded in truly touching a reader, moving them in a way that few other things ever can. I should be a point of pride - unless, of course, your number one fan is Annie Wilkes, who just happens to come across her favourite author just after he's crashed his car... James Caan plays Paul Sheldon, the famous author of novels featuring the character Misery Chastain, a series he's increasingly tiring of and would prefer to bring to an end so he can start on other works. After being rescued the crash by Annie Wilkes (a career best performance for Kathy Bates) it doesn't take long until he realises that she's the kind of person who puts the "fan" into "fanatical", and after a few verbally and physically violent outbursts the horrible realisation that he is a prisoner rather than a guest dawns on him. The desire to push himself artistically and intellectually as a writer soon becomes a fight for survival. Essentially a two cast movie, Misery is undoubtedly one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever made, with a standout performance from Kathy Bates which has to rank as one of the best psychopath roles in film history. Her weird quirks and turn of phrases initially disarm the viewer, but when the prudish mask starts to slip Wilkes transforms into a monstrous creation you won't forget in a hurry.
