The snow bank accident is told in backstory and via the radio. The set is a revolving stage of a house: the kitchen, living room, and Paul’s room-we even have an exterior where a pesky cop wonders as to the whereabouts of her favorite author. The only character left to engage with, then, is Annie, which undermines the entire story. He plays it with a sarcasm-infused monotone he is never terrified, and he never stops being Bruce Willis, which means he is never vulnerable enough for the audience to feel he is in genuine danger. Caan played it with a convincingly twitchy, terror-stricken charm, but Willis’ performance never rings true. Willis ( Die Hard), on the other hand, is a bit stiff here in the role originated by James Caan in the film. Bates? Metcalf (of the sitcom “Roseanne” and HBO’s “Getting On”) does bring her own spin to the role though she is not as physically terrifying as Bates, she emotes hairpin insanity. Can someone inherit the character of Annie and ever hope to live up to the star-making performance of Ms. Any horror fan has most likely seen the film and has read the book and so is primed, knowing the score going in. With regard to the live theater adaptation, this review could go either way. Preceding the Broadway production we have both the best-selling novel Misery (1987) and the film adaptation directed by Rob Reiner in 1990, which won a Best Actress Academy Award for Kathy Bates. And so begins the Scheherazade nightmare of being at the mercy of the entitlement and expectations of your “biggest fan.” No, she insists that Sheldon is better off continuing what he is most known for-he must resurrect Misery in a new story dedicated to and written exclusively for Annie.

She is then determined to make the world right, to burn his new manuscript, which marked a new direction in his career (Annie regards this direction as vulgar).

She is steadfast by his side as he heals, though caretaking turns torturous when she finds out Sheldon has killed her favorite romance character, Misery Chastain, in his latest novel. Sheldon is safe we later find out, or so he thinks-his savior and superfan Annie Wilkes (Metcalf) happened upon the scene of the accident and has rescued him. His car rolled off a snow bank, and no one knows where he is. Paul Sheldon (Willis), a best selling author, has had an accident.

MISERY. by Stephen King