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Late to the Party: MISERY (1990)

Published

7 years ago

November 23, 2016

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors. I write for a horror publication – is that so hard to believe? His movies seem to be hit or miss, and that’s not the man’s fault. It’s always interesting to see how one person’s story is seen through another’s retelling. I loved his novella, The Mist. The film adaption, though? Could not stand it. On the other hand, I thought that the film version of Stand By Me (which was based on another novella, titled The Body) was ten times more enjoyable.

Never reading King’s original book, however, I thought that Misery would be a fun experiment for me. In almost every occasion, I’ve experienced King’s stories through text first and moving picture later. I wondered how it would be to watch something of his first, and then read it.

Well, I haven’t gotten around to reading Misery yet, but I think that’s understandable given that I just finished the movie last night. So, I can’t speak on how it compares to the book, but maybe I don’t need to. Film and literature are two completely different animals, and I treat them as such. In any case, I enjoyed Misery very much.

The plot of the film is pretty damn straightforward. An author, Paul Sheldon (James Caan) gets in a car wreck during a snowstorm and is rescued by his “biggest fan,” Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates). She nurses him back to health, but there’s something a little off about her. In other words, she’s completely nuts. Wilkes forces Sheldon to write another sequel to his “Misery” novels when she reads the ending of the most recent one and decides that she doesn’t like it. The rest of the film follows an act of give and pull between the two as Sheldon attempts to survive Wilkes’ psychosis.

Caan and Bates both excel in their roles, and while at first I was expecting Bates to steal the show, I ended up completely enamored with James Caan’s portrayal of the writer. The man brings a lot of personality and humanity to the role; with Bates, well, she did the whole “crazy bitch” thing perfectly as well. I loved how obsessive and ridiculous the character was.

But besides the two of them, my favorite part of the film would probably be the scenery. The snow gave a very pleasing backdrop to a sadistic situation, which made Sheldon’s situation all the more sinister. Wilkes is a monster, through and through. The beauty of her character (and the horror, for that matter) is how deceptive her sinister-ness is (I don’t think that’s a word – just go with it). She doesn’t look like anyone overtly threatening, and she certainly doesn’t sound it. Wilkes is very much the definition of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

There were no big surprises for me to be found in Misery. If I could complain about one thing, it would be how straightforward the plot was. But then again, maybe that’s the beauty of the film. It’s such a simple premise. There could have realistically been one or two endings to the situation – Sheldon lives or Sheldon dies. While there was a degree of tension throughout, it never got to heart racing levels. Still, the strength of the characters in the film make for a highly enjoyable watch.

Misery is a horror film for those who don’t particularly enjoy horror films. It’s got great character acting and a steady, believable plot. The absence of anything too gory or violent besides one or two scenes will make it fine enough for anyone looking for a chill that won’t run unsettlingly deep.

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Live Action Scooby-Doo Reboot Series In Works at Netflix

Published

8 mins ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The ghosthunting Great Dane with an anxiety problem, Scooby-Doo, is getting a reboot and Netflix is picking up the tab. Variety is reporting that the iconic show is becoming an hour-long series for the streamer although no details have been confirmed. In fact, Netflix execs declined to comment.

If the project is a go, this would be the first live-action movie based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon since 2018’s Daphne & Velma. Before that, there were two theatrical live-action movies, Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), then two sequels that premiered on The Cartoon Network.

Currently, the adult-oriented Velma is streaming on Max.

Scooby-Doo originated in 1969 under the creative team Hanna-Barbera. The cartoon follows a group of teenagers who investigate supernatural happenings. Known as Mystery Inc., the crew consists of Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, and his best friend, a talking dog named Scooby-Doo.

Normally the episodes revealed the hauntings they encountered were hoaxes developed by land-owners or other nefarious characters hoping to scare people away from their properties. The original TV series named Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! ran from 1969 to 1986. It was so successful that movie stars and pop culture icons would make guest appearances as themselves in the series.

Celebrities such as Sonny & Cher, KISS, Don Knotts, and The Harlem Globetrotters made cameos as did Vincent Price who portrayed Vincent Van Ghoul in a few episodes.

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BET Releasing New Original Thriller: The Deadly Getaway

Published

11 mins ago

April 30, 2024

Cameron McFarland

BET will soon be offering horror fans a rare treat. The studio has announced the official release date for their new original thriller, The Deadly Getaway. Directed by Charles Long (The Trophy Wife), this thriller sets up a heart racing game of cat and mouse for audiences to sink their teeth into.

Wanting to break up the monotony of their routine, Hope and Jacob set off to spend their vacation at a simple cabin in the woods. However, things go sideways when Hope’s ex-boyfriend shows up with a new girl at the same campsite. Things soon spiral out of control. Hope and Jacob must now work together to escape the woods with their lives.

The Deadly Getaway is written by Eric Dickens (Makeup X Breakup) and Chad Quinn (Reflections of US). The Film stars, Yandy Smith-Harris (Two Days in Harlem), Jason Weaver (The Jacksons: An American Dream), and Jeff Logan (My Valentine Wedding).

Showrunner Tressa Azarel Smallwood had the following to say about the project. “The Deadly Getaway is the perfect reintroduction to classic thrillers, which encompass dramatic twists, and spine-chilling moments. It showcases the range and diversity of emerging Black writers across genres of film and television.”

The Deadly Getaway will premiere on 5.9.2024, exclusively ion BET+.

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‘Talk To Me’ Directors Danny & Michael Philippou Reteam With A24 for ‘Bring Her Back’

Published

2 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Timothy Rawles

A24 didn’t waste any time snatching up the Philippou brothers (Michael and Danny) for their next feature titled Bring Her Back. The duo have been on a short list of young directors to watch for since the success of their horror film Talk to Me.

The South Australian twins surprised many people with their debut feature. They were mostly known for being YouTube pranksters and extreme stuntmen.

It was announced today that Bring Her Back will star Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, Willy Wonka) and begin filming this summer. No word yet on what this film is about.

Talk To Me Official Trailer

Although its title sounds like it could be connected to the Talk to Me universe this project doesn’t appear to be related to that film.

However, in 2023 the brothers revealed a Talk to Me prequel was already made which they say is a screen life concept.

“We actually shot an entire Duckett prequel already. It’s told entirely through the perspective of mobile phones and social media, so maybe down the line we can release that,” Danny Philippou told The Hollywood Reporter last year. “But also while writing the first film, you can’t help but write scenes for a second film. So there’s so many scenes. The mythology was so thick, and if A24 gave us the opportunity, we wouldn’t be able to resist. I feel like we’d jump at it.”

In addition, the Philippous are working on a proper sequel to Talk To Me something they say they have already written sequences for. They are also attached to a Street Fighter film.