Text across top: Directed by Rob Reiner, Based on the Novel by Stephen King, Screenplay by William Goldman
Middle: James Caan – Kathy Bates
Paul Sheldon used to write for a living. Now, he’s writing to stay alive.
Part Two of AnDread’s discussion with Erin C. Hendricks about Stephen King’s Misery (1987) and Rob Reiner’s film adaptation (1990). We discuss addiction and the differences between the book and movie.
- Intro
- Conclusion of Misery Novel Discussion
- King said that the novel is about addiction, but that element is downplayed in the movie
- Addiction and pain management – misconceptions about painkillers affect people with disabilities who need them and know how to take them responsibly
- Media depictions of chronic pain conflate using painkillers recreationally with using them to function normally
- Pseudo-addiction: when being undertreated for a medical condition can lead to behaviors that resemble behaviors of addiction
- Annie uses Paul’s addiction to painkillers as way to control and limit him
- Stephen King’s On Writing, Chapter 36 – says Annie represented his struggles with addiction
- Annie also represents King’s adversarial relationship with fans who were angry over his departure from horror in his fantasy novel Eyes of the Dragon
- King refers to his readers as Constant Reader and Paul refers to Annie as Constant Reader
- Writing itself as a kind of addiction for King and Paul – something that helps Paul to survive
- Myth of the tortured artist whose creative genius makes them unable to function as ordinary person
- Theme of Africa, captivity, home, and writing – writing as a way to escape captivity
- Physical and mental components of addiction
- Rob Reiner’s Misery Film Discussion 50:16
- Misery is a 1990 horror/thriller directed by Rob Reiner, written by William Goldman
- Stars Kathy Bates as Annie, James Caan as Paul, Richard Fanrsworth as Buster, Frances Sternhagen as Virginia, Lauren Bacall as Paul’s agent
- from William Goldman’s audio commentary
- Unlike novel, made Annie seem kindly at first – “Once you know she’s nuts, it’s a different movie” – tried to delay revelation as long as possible
- Wanted an unknown but good actress, Goldman suggested Bates, who was Broadway actress at time – Reiner immediately agreed
- William Hurt, Richard Dreyfus, Kevin Cline, Harrison Ford, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffmann considered for Paul’s part – chose James Caan despite physicality, being stuck in bed helped generate tension
- Depiction of pain limited in film while a major aspect of book
- Film goes beyond house, Paul’s perspective, while book is through Paul’s perspective
- Kathy Bates’ memorable performances
- Misery as satirical love letter to fans
- Buster and Virginia bring needed comic relief
- Misery as haunted house story (Eli Roth’s History of Horror)
- Hobbling scene works through suggestion
- Ending puts unwelcome inspirational spin on the story
- Guest plugs
- FACEBOOK: Erin C. Hendricks
- Plugs and Wrap-Up 1:32:40
- WEBSITE: freaksandpsychospodcast.com. Please subscribe, rate, and review
- EMAIL: freaksandpsychospodcast@gmail.com
- VOICEMAIL: 614-721-1011
- TWITTER: @FreaksPsychos and @AnDreadtheBlind
- LETTERBOXD: Andread. Disability in Horror list
- DARK MARK, creator of the show’s intro and outro music
- Twitter: @mark underscore longfield
- Letterboxd: Darkmark
- NEXT EPISODE: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) with Bill Van Veghel, co-host of Land of the Creeps and Phantom Galaxy podcasts!
- If you find yourself wishing that you were normal, just remember: The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth.
There will be a transcript for this show in the future. Please contact freaksandpsychospodcast@gmail.com for any accessibility concerns.
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