SIMILAR PRODUCTS - TASK 5 (MISERY CHARACTERS)

Misery is a film directed by Rob Reiner and is based on the novel written by Stephen King. It revolves around two main characters Paul Sheldon (famous writer) and Annie Wilkes ( nurse), as she "rescues" him from a car accident and takes him in to her own care and is revealed to be his number one fan who is a headcase.

Annie Wilkes is a nurse and is introduced into the film as a mysterious hero, as we don't see her face, using enigma as we don't know who this person is, if they are male or female. Later on we see her giving Paul a bed in her isolated farm house, treating him well with care as she gives him food and medicine. Her appearance is very bland, overweight, wearing dull coloured jumpers and trousers. Our perception on Annie is a warm-hearted and caring woman, as we see her giving Paul everything he needs, however later on we indicate that she not only is a nurse, but a big fan of Paul's book Misery and reads that one of her favourite characters in his latest book are killed off. This is the first sign we see of her physiological disorder and evil side as she flips out at him and demands he burns his script and writes a new one.

The audience now know that she is not just a fan of his work, but is obsessed with it, which is becoming an illness and threat to Paul. Her obsession with the book becomes so bad that she begins giving Paul pills that actually sleeping tablets, and remains on top of his new script making sure that she is satisfied with the ending. We notice some signs that she is very clever and possibly has OCD, as she picks up on the fact a penguin ornament has been turned around, and finds out that Paul has attempted to escape when she goes to fetch him more paper. Her psychopathic side is revealed more as she eventually breaks Paul's legs, in order to keep him disabled and remaining in the house to finish the novel. We find out that she also was an ex-baby serial killer at the hospital she used to nurse at, which is shown from a scrap book full of newspaper articles. This is a massive shock to the audience, which through out the film their view on her has turned to hatred, as she is a very deceiving character. As the audience found out about her past, this made them much happier and not sympathetic when Paul kills her.

Paul Sheldon is an author, we know this as the opening scene he is writing a manuscript for a new novel, as he finished his series of books called 'Misery'. This small detail of description from the opening scene of Paul instantly gives the audience an idea of who this character is, he must be intelligent and creative. This gives a clear perception on Paul as a character as the audience take an instant like to him, and sympathise with him when he is under care of Annie. This shows his morals and ethics that he is a dedicated man, as he commits his time to writing best selling novels, he likes to be by himself and spending time on things he enjoys. He just finished his other manuscript, and decided to take a break to Colorado, and is caught in a blizzard where he is involved in a car accident, we then see Annie rescue him and take him into her care as he broke his leg and dislocated his shoulder.We see him as a very down to earth man, as he is grateful to be rescued by Annie.

Through out the film as we learn what Annie is really like, Paul cleverly has learnt to keep control of Annie when she gets angry, showing he knows how to play the game to make it through the day safe. We also learn that Paul is a determind and strong man, as he attempts to escape as he sent Annie down the shop to get some paper. He does this with a broken leg, as his addrelline pushes him further while he drags his body to the door. This shows when in danger is he calm and tatical, not usual for a person to react when in situations like this. He notices that the pills Annie has been giving him are in fact sleeping pills, and cleverly he stores them under his bed rather than taking them, indicating he has a plan which he has thought over. This could be a skill he picked up when writing books, as he takes a cunning plan into tricking and drugging Annie. He does this over dinner, wooing her into thinking he likes her, when actually he slipped the pills into her drink,  which fails as she spills her drink. Paul doesn't flip out, where this isn't his last resort, as later on he kills Annie but he would only turn to violence when he has too.