Misery
R
Nov 30, 1990
Drama · Nearly two hours of relentless tension that earns every minute.
Solid crowd-pleaser
7.8/10
IMDb
91%
Fresh
75
75/100
Metacritic
🎬
7.7/10
TMDB
The brief
Rob Reiner turns Stephen King's nightmare into a masterclass in sustained dread, watching Kathy Bates transform from sweet caretaker to absolute psychopath with terrifying precision. The film locks you in that claustrophobic house with James Caan's helpless writer, every scene ratcheting up the tension until you're checking the exits. Bates delivers one of horror's greatest villain performances, all folksy charm hiding pure menace underneath. Perfect for anyone who loved The Shining or wants psychological horror that gets under your skin without relying on jump scares.
claustrophobic
psychological torment
cabin fever dread
obsessive fan horror
literary nightmare
isolated helplessness
The verdict
If you love psychological horror that builds unbearable tension through stellar performances and claustrophobic atmosphere, this is essential viewing that showcases Kathy Bates at her terrifying best. If you prefer action-heavy horror or get uncomfortable with prolonged scenes of helplessness and psychological torment, you'll find this slow-burn nightmare too intense and confining.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for maximum psychological impact
- 👫 Thriller fans who appreciate character study
- ⚠️ Skip if you're squeamish about violence
Heads up
- Graphic violence including hobbling scene (moderate)
- Psychological torture and captivity (frequent)
- Drug dependency themes (brief)
- Profanity throughout (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Rob Reiner
- Cast
- Kathy Bates, James Caan, Richard Farnsworth, Lauren Bacall, Frances Sternhagen, Graham Jarvis, Jerry Potter
Official synopsis
After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. Her
