Misery

As big film fans ourselves, we sometimes wish stories went in different directions, but not to the extent of chilling Stephen King adaptation Misery. Kathy Bates won an Oscar for her disturbing performance as a psychotic superfan, who abducts her favourite author, keeping him captive so he can end his popular series the way she wants. We can only hope that King didn’t write this one from personal experience…

What makes this would-be saviour so terrifying, is not only is she a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but she doesn’t realise she isn’t one of the flock! Her unpredictable duality makes a frightening foe for Stephen King’s most undeserving victim, as you can never be sure of what she’ll do next!

Misery brings a rare, engrossing intimacy to its layers of mental and physical cruelty, including a particularly toe-curling sledgehammer scene, that has stayed in our nightmares ever since.