Stephen King’sMiseryhas become a free streaming hit after dropping onTubia few weeks ago. Users of the free streaming service are finding the1990 adaptationto be a worthy psychological horror thriller that just has to be revisited. At the time of writing,Miserysits in third spot on Tubi’s list of most popular films. Other titles currently vying for attention on the platform include the Wesley Snipes thriller,Murder at 1600, Patrick Swayze’s 80s hit,Road House,and the demonically delightful Megan Fox horror movie,Jennifer’s Body.
Written by American playwright William Goldman, and directed by Rob Reiner,Miseryis based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The story follows a writer named Paul Sheldon, who’s returning from his retreat where he wrote the end of a successful series of romantic novels centering around the fictional character Misery Chastain. Sheldon has an accident on the snowy road, but fortunately, a nurse named Annie Wilkes comes to his rescue.
When Paul wakes up, he finds out that Annie is his number one fan. She’s a fan of Misery and the books based on the character, and she’s honored to be taking care of her idol. However, Annie finds out that Paul has killed the character for good, and unexpectedly, she shows her true self: Annie is not a nice person when she gets angered by things not being right in the world - at least in her opinion - and she won’t let Paul go until he brings Misery back to life. If he refuses, he will face consequences.
Misery delivered a different kind of Stephen King movie to many early adaptations of the author’s work. This wasn’t a supernatural horror film likeThe Shining,ChristineorFirestarter. But four years before, Rob Reiner had madeStand by Me, a coming-of-age gem which showed King’s more “sober” side. If there was someone capable of making a different King film, it was Reiner.
Miserywas a hit among audiences and film critics. Kathy Bates' performance as Annie Wilkes was hailed as one of the best of the year, and she won an Oscar in the Best Actress category. To this day,Miseryisthe only Stephen King film to win an Academy Award.
Other Stephen King-related movies available on Tubi include the “so bad it’s good” wild ride,Maximum Overdrive, andTrucks,which is also based on the same short story as the previous. Tubi’s library also has 1984’sChildren of the Corn, the horror anthologyCreepshow 2, the three film versions ofCarrieand the sequelThe Rage: Carrie 2, and the outstanding prison dramaThe Green Mile.
Stephen King’s ‘Misery’ Shows Fandom Take a Very Dark Turn
Stephen King’s books are works of fiction. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t address semi-autobiographical elements. King has said in the past that Annie is a metaphor for the drug issues he was going through back then, and while he didn’t write Paul as a reflection of himself, it’s impossible not to see elements of the writing process fleshed out in Paul Sheldon’s journey to comply with Wilkes' request.
Kathy Bates' Mom Was Not Very Impressed With Her Big Oscar Win
The legendary actress was also shocked to learn that she didn’t forget to thank her mother at the Oscars.
Nevertheless, perhaps it’s not only a matter of interpretation. Maybe the story is also about the eerie and unlimited culture of fandom. WhenThe Eyes of the Dragonwas released, fans were outraged at King because he wrote a fantasy epic and not a straight-up horror story. King’s answer was to introduce Paul Sheldon as an author trying to leave a stereotype behind. However, he also punished the author with a serendipitous journey that had an extremely brutal layover led by Wilkes,one of the best human villains in the author’s catalog.
