Stephen King’s ‘Misery’ Becomes a Free Streaming Hit

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Stephen King’s “Misery” has been a popular choice on free streaming platforms since its recent release. Viewers of this service find the 1990 adaptation to be an engaging psychological horror thriller that deserves multiple views. Currently, “Misery” ranks third in Tubi’s list of most-watched films. Competing for viewers’ attention on the platform are titles such as Wesley Snipes’ “Murder at 1600”, Patrick Swayze’s classic film “Road House”, and the horror movie “Jennifer’s Body” starring Megan Fox.

The movie “Misery” was penned by American playwright William Goldman and helmed by director Rob Reiner. It’s adapted from the 1987 novel of the same title by Stephen King. The narrative revolves around a writer named Paul Sheldon, who has just completed the final installment in his successful series of romantic novels featuring Misery Chastain as the protagonist. After an accident on a snowy road, he’s rescued by a woman named Annie Wilkes, who claims to be a nurse.

As I stir from my slumber, I’m taken aback to discover that the woman tending to me is none other than a die-hard fan of my work – specifically, the enigmatic character of Misery. Overwhelmed by joy to be in the presence of my idol, she’s thrilled to be nursing her beloved creation back to health.

However, her admiration takes a darker turn as she learns that I’ve put an end to Misery once and for all. In an unexpected twist, Annie reveals her true nature – she’s far from the sweet, docile fan one might expect. When things don’t align with her vision of how the world should be – in this case, the return of Misery – she becomes enraged.

Determined to have her way, Annie makes it clear that I won’t be leaving until I resurrect the character she holds so dear. If I refuse, I must brace myself for the consequences that will surely follow.

In contrast to the supernatural horror movies that were common in early adaptations of Stephen King’s works such as “The Shining,” “Christine,” and “Firestarter,” “Misery” presented a unique take on King’s work. Four years prior, Rob Reiner had already showcased King’s more realistic side with the release of “Stand by Me.” Given his previous success, it seemed plausible that Reiner was the right director to bring a different kind of Stephen King film to life.

The movie titled “Misery” turned out to be a massive success among both audiences and film critics. Kathy Bates’ portrayal of Annie Wilkes was highly praised as one of the standout performances of that year, earning her an Oscar in the Best Actress category. To this day, “Misery” remains the only Stephen King film to secure an Academy Award.

Among other Stephen King-inspired films available on Tubi, you’ll find a hilariously entertaining rollercoaster ride called “Maximum Overdrive” and another film titled “Trucks,” which shares the same short story basis as the former. Additionally, Tubi offers “Children of the Corn” from 1984, the horror anthology “Creepshow 2”, three adaptations of “Carrie” including the sequel “The Rage: Carrie 2”, and the critically acclaimed prison drama “The Green Mile”.

Stephen King’s ‘Misery‘ Shows Fandom Take a Very Dark Turn

Stephen King’s novels are made-up stories, but they do contain some semi-autobiographical aspects. In fact, Annie from one of his books is said to be a symbol of the drug problems King faced at the time. Although Paul wasn’t written as a depiction of King himself, it’s hard not to recognize similarities between the writing process and Paul Sheldon’s journey to fulfill Wilkes’ demands in the story.

Despite the differing views on interpretation, it might not just be about how people perceive the story. Instead, “The Eyes of the Dragon” could also be a commentary on the intense and boundless nature of fandom culture. Fans were disappointed with King for writing a fantasy epic instead of a traditional horror story when he released “The Eyes of the Dragon.” King responded by creating Paul Sheldon, an author trying to break away from stereotypes. However, he also subjected the author to a serendipitous adventure that included a gruesome detour orchestrated by Wilkes, one of his most formidable villains in his literary works.

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2025-02-15 17:03