10 Horror Movie Characters Who Survived Horrific Injuries

Misery's embattled protagonist Paul Sheldon (the late, great James Caan) certainly earns his survival by film's end, having endured a cringe-worthy degree of punishment from his violently crazed super-fan Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates).

But first off, Sheldon survives a gnarly car accident which gives him broken legs and a dislocated shoulder, as well as leaving him in the care of nurse Annie.

Annie then keeps Paul imprisoned in her home, and when he recuperates enough to try and stage an escape, she responds by administering one of the most wince-inducing injuries in cinema history.

Annie uses a sledgehammer to break Paul's ankles, hobbling him and ensuring he won't be mobile enough to escape her clutches. While not gory, Rob Reiner's sublime direction expertly milks the moment for every drop, aided by superb sound design and fantastic acting from both leads.

Even when Paul successfully makes his last stand against Annie, he's shot in the shoulder before he's finally able to overcome her.

In the film's epilogue, Paul is shown to still walk with a cane 18 months after the incident, and he makes it clear that he's still suffering psychologically from the encounter.

If his physical injuries might pale in comparison to, say, losing your whole ass or getting bodily invaded by a possessed tree, it's clear that Paul will likely be forever haunted by what happened to him.