Misery and Misery

Misery 1990 film directed by Rob Reiner based on the novel by Stephen King Misery 1987.

Intro
The film Misery is highly consisted one of the best movie adaptations based on a book. Great story with great actors and very entertaining. If you enjoy stories where the characters are in a  claustrophobia environment I highly recommend this one, book or movie. Due to the popularity of this novel/film I will not get into great details about the story, but only point out some items one might not have thought about in the film.

Plot
Famous writer Paul Sheldon finishing writing his latest novel plans to deliver it right away. On the road he gets into an accident that leaves him unconscious. He wakes up in a room to discover his legs are damage making him unable to walk. His savior is Annie Wilkes, a retire nurse who happens to be his number one fan. Paul soon realize he's not going anywhere. Upon learning the death of her favorite character from his novel Misery Chastain, Annie demonstrates how dangerous she can be. Forcing him to burn his new book Annie buys Paul a typewriter making him write another Misery novel in her honor. After many attempts to escape Annie decides the only way to make sure Paul stays put is by dismembering him. Having had enough Paul makes one last desperate attempt for freedom even if it cost him his life.

Similarities
There are many similarities, so I'll just point out a few I believe where essential of having made the film succeed.

Location
To start off the location of the story does take place in Colorado. It was mentioned in the novel to take place in Sidewinder, Colorado where Annie lives (a fictional place mentioned also in other King's stories). Although the film version stated it's located at Silver Creek, Colorado (non-fiction), but that's not a problem because it doesn't ruin the plot or anything. We just need to know that Paul stayed at a place where snow is common. A hardcore fan would probably disagree, if you prefer the exact details from the book. I could let this one go. 

The Car
I liked the fact that Rob used the novel's version of Paul's car the old 74 Camaro. It's important to the plot because it provided Paul with hope that the police will find the car at the location he crashed. If they find the car, but not his body they'll continue their search. Maybe they'll assume somebody took him. Hopefully they'll do their research, drive by down to Annie's house to question her due to her trail history. 

Annie and Kathy
Praise Rob Reiner for selecting Kathy Bates to play Annie Wilkes because she nailed it! Short-tempered, control freak, psycho yet caring. One of the greatest villain in movie history no doubt.

Paul wakes up to see his number 1 fan

Annie's character is a little complex, but I'll give it a go. The novel explains more about her background, but it's still uncertain if she grew up as a psychological harm child with daddy issues (stated she possibly murdered her own father) or she has the same ideology as her mother, who she seems to idealize keeping a portrait of her in her own living room. Whatever the cause of her insanity actress Kathy Bates succeeded in bringing the character to life.

We do however read Paul's point of view of Annie's thoughts. He shown to have a vivid imagination, so he's able to come up with ideas of what makes Annie tick and he does this by thinking like her.

"In Annie's view all the people in the world were divided into three groups: brats, poor poor things . . . and Annie" (Misery, Stephen King).

I do have to say that Annie gets quickly irritated with Paul more in the book than in the film. She's more impatient, aggressive, and sensitive. Paul nearly had to always be careful how his sentence came out when he spoked to Annie. Her film counterpart at least shown us that she can take a joke such as the scene where Paul flips her off.

Memory Lane
Annie does keep a memoir and I'm very glad the film shows this. We learned that during her years working as a nurse, Annie picked up the habit of murdering the ills and injured, then moving off to the next hospital. During that time nobody suspected the deaths as unusual or thought to point the finger at Annie at first. She does stop killing for awhile after her marriage, but gets right back into the game after the divorce. She's finally put on trail after the deaths of 8 infants, receiving the nickname the Dragon Lady. She managed to be presume innocent, returns as a nurse killing more people, then moves to Sidewinder/Silver Creek to live alone.

Humor
The Stephen King's Novel is known to have humor in it. There's one funny scene where Annie tears a rat apart, then abandoned Paul to go to her laughing place leaving Paul to worry about starvation. He gets a crazy idea that he could eat the rat, then starts laughing. It's gruesome, but humorous at the same time. I believe the film does provide some humor scenes as well. 

Typewriter
Not just a typewriter, but a typewriter missing the 'N'. It's not much important to the story, but it gave good tribute to it. In the book the typewriter was treated as an character. 

Cockadoodie Car
One of my favorite scenes is the part when Annie makes Paul rewrite the intro of Misery's Return (the novel she forces him to write) because he wasn't being fair. He doesn't understand, so Annie uses Rocket Man a childhood favorite actor as an example. In this scene actress Katy uses almost the exact same lines as in the novel. 

"He didn't get out of the cockadoodie car!" (Misery, Stephen King).

It was a bit more dramatic in the novel, but the film gets to the point which works.

Difference
Minor difference not much. Only major difference are the characters added to the film that didn't have much of a big roll in the book.

The Metting
In the film Paul and Annie first introduction slightly differs from the novel. Annie introduces herself as his number one fan and savior immediately in both versions. However book version Paul is in agonized pain from his accident so he wines a lot, though he quickly realize he's Annie's prisoner

Film version Paul goes though the early days out of his coma feeling safe with Annie taking care of him. We get to know Annie as a sweet caring nurse who saved Paul's life. There's no paranoia that's he's in danger. Which is why we are shock when we see our first impression that she's psycho when she quickly turns berserk during a disagreement about Pual's latest book (Fast Cars). We really see her nasty side when Annie discovers fictional character Misery been killed off both novel and film version. Also in the film the discovering of Misery's death is also the scene where she reveals to Paul that he's not going anywhere, PERIOD!

Annie gets upset with Paul over spilled soup

Paul's writing place
Paul stayed at the Boulderado Hotel in Boulder, Colorado, yet the film stated he stayed at the Silver Creek Lodge to write his novel.

Buster
The old sheriff is one of the major characters in the film, but not in the novel. Although there's a scene where Annie gets a visit from an old person which Paul nicknamed Mr Rancho Grande. There's a brief description about him that might have been the source of creating Buster.

"He looked sixty-five but might be eighty; he might be the senior partner of a law firm or the semi-retired patriarch of a construction company, but was more likely a rancher or a realtor" (Misery, Stephen King).

Buster is a likable characters and he shown his importance of the story by providing the audience with hope that he'll find Paul. 

Misery Chastise
We receive way more information about Misery the novel in the book version. We hardly know much about the character in the film except when Annie explains to Paul about certain chapters (in great details). Well it's basically about a young beautiful Misery Chastise along with her lover Ian and friend Geoffrey that embark on dangerous adventures together. It's a romance love triangle action/drama novel taken place around the 1800's era. It's popularity is due to its women readers.

Unlike the film version, we get to read Paul's perspective of his character. He's shown to have a love/hatred for Misery. In the film, we do see a brief scene at the beginning where he's having a meeting with his agent discussing why de decided to kill off Misery.

Movie quote: I never meant it to become my life. If I haven't gotten ride of her now I would have ended writing her forever.

I suppose it some up his thoughts of Misery.

What's really interesting about Misery the novel is that we the readers get a novel within a novel. We're not only centering around Paul's story, but as well as Misery's.

The hoppling
The famous scene that made audiences cringe all over the world is actually quite different from King's original hoppling scene from his book. In the book Annie's weapon of choice wasn't a sledgehammer, but an axe to cut off Paul's left foot. It's more bloody and cruel. She also later on cuts off one of his thumbs, but that doesn't happen in the film. Rob Reiner had change the idea of dismembering Paul's foot to just breaking it because he wanted to give the audience a sense of victory for Paul towards the end. Stephen King also tried to give us a sense of victory by stating that Paul's foot was infected to begin with, so it was going to be removed anyways. Basically Annie did him a favor.

Conclusion
There are many other things I left out such as Paul the idea of freedom is Africa, Annie and her neighbors the Roydmans, and much more. If you enjoyed the movie, then you'll enjoy the book.

Quick Intro

Hello, quick introduction

I'm an enthusiastic writer, reader, and movie lover. Mainly horror movies lover. I'm one of those people who love watching movies and reading the books they're based on. One of my favorite conversations to have is to discuss the similarities and dissimilarities between books and their movies. How do they compare? How do they differentiate? Did the movie did a good job bringing the book to the big screen? Did it correctly recreate the story? I enjoy discussing all these topics, plus more. The question I love to discuss the most of course is, which do you prefer? The book or movie? The majority of people would say the book was better or the book is always better, and I agree. Though, there have been movies that made a few changes from the books that made people to actually prefer the film. Small changes for example, a twist to the plot, recreating a scene differently, or bringing new meanings to a character, and more. I will mainly focus on discussing about the caparison between the book and film versions. Though, most of the books I'll review are related to horror because of my interested in the genre.

Lastly I would like to say is that these reviews are mainly my own opinions, so there no need to ratify, but I do enjoy feedbacks and discussions. I write for the fun of it!

Hellraiser and The Hellbound Heart

Hellraiser 1987 (left poster) British horror film directed by Clive Barker who some might not know also wrote the book it's based on The Hellbound Heart 1986.

Intro
It makes sense to say that Clive Barker knows his own novel inside out, so one would think his movie version would successfully portray the book correctly, right? Right! The film version adapted the book perfectly no doubt. Although, Clive himself made a few changes to the story, but not so much stepping away from the original. Mostly changes in character development, which in my opinion made the conflict between the film's characters more intimate and personal with each other than the book version as I'll explain why later.

Story plot
Yet again, the story plot of the movie follows the novel perfectly. There's no disappointment there. Main antagonist Frank Cotton opens the Lemarchand's box (puzzle box) summing the cenobites hoping they'll grant his wish for new pleasurable experiences only to be torture and become forever prisoner of the box. Some time later he's resurrected by consuming the blood of his brother's Larry aka Roy,  then seeks help from his long ago affair Julia; who's also Larry's wife. For love she seduces men to bring to Frank as prey in order for his rotten flesh to regrow, so they'll be forever together. Family friend/Larry's daughter Kirsty retrieves the box after a short confrontation with Frank.  She ends up at the hospital, where she summons the cenobites accidentally. Wanting to torture her, she bargains with them to take Frank in exchange for her life. Convincing the cenobites, Kirsty leads them to Frank only to discover that he's in Larry's skin. The cenobites catch on and torture him to death; Julia also dies. Kirsty fights off the cenobites, surviving the day, end.

Similiarities
Clive definitely delivers the same dark theme of pain, sex, and desperation as in his book. He brings forth a strange mixture of pain and pleasure. The discovering of ones inner flesh and the satisfaction of it. Sadomasochism is a plus.
We see this dark theme in the film with it's gore, guts and scary fantasy-like atmosphere.

Frank and Julia
Each characters are interesting. In the film/novel, we follow through the story with Frank and Julia Cotton who are proceed as greedy, desperate, unsatisfied, and suffering people. In other words evil. The majority of the story mainly involves around these two characters. Our focuses are set into their world and points of view. One can say they're the anti-heroes. They're not exactly good examples cause they'll only make you feel like you're life is unfulfilled.

In the novel Frank and Julia are said to be similar, yet different. They are both suave, persuasive, sensual, and their outlook in life are similar.

"They were not wholly dissimilar; a certain lilt in their voices, and their easy manner, marked them as siblings" (The Hellhound Heart).

Although, Frank is explained to be more distress about life's givings than Julia, which set their interests apart. Having traveled to many places, Franks grew bored of  the world believing it had nothing more to offer him. Which caused him to search for the puzzle box in hopes to uncover a new world that would fulfilled his needs. That back fired of course. After his resurrection, his new goal is to regrow his flesh and bones in order for him to return to society once again. By doing so he absorbs victim's flesh with the help of Julia.

Now Julia to begin with is describe to be resentful and unhappy with her marriage with Larry/Roy. This side of her is shown when the couple moves into their new home at the beginning of the novel. Four years ago she had slept with Frank just a few days before her marriage to Larry. She was quickly persuade by his manner. After many years of boredom marriage with Larry she discovered that the only person that really made her desperate for love was none other than Frank. She commits murder for him in the sake of love.

I believe Clare Higgins portrayal of secondary antagonist Julia Cotton stayed true to the character the most. Clare portrayed the suave, sophisticated, frigid, yet deprived Julia Cotton perfectly, hands down. I'm also impress with Andrew Robinson's (Dirty Harry) portrayal of Roy Cotton (aka Larry Cotton) and Frank Cotton (supposedly in Larry's skin). He managed to switch from characters of Roy's (Larry's) carefree, childish, ignorance personality to Frank sadistic, elegant manner; from loving dimwit father to uncle wants to kill you. It takes a well trained actor who's able to pull off playing two completely different characters in one film and make it believable to the audience. Andrew nailed it! Oliver Smith who played monster Frank performed perfectly as well. Imaging having an skinless, leaking, skeleton, veins popping out uncle with a desire to rape you; yikes and no thanks. Oliver performance of monster Frank is one of the most bizarre horror characters brought on to the screen in my opinion (besides Pinhead). Sean Chapman (Hellraiser 1 and 2) cast as the human Frank Cotton isn't so bad, but he was just cast to portray the image of Frank. Playing another bad pretty boy whining about life, not so much exciting.

Differences
First off we all know that movie versions can't be exactly like the novel versions, but there are changes done that either make the story better or make you prefer the book. Hellraiser is no exception even thought the movie is the book. I mentioned earlier that there where a few character changes that I believe made the conflict better than the book.

The Intro
Novel, the cenobites give Frank a five sense-like experience before they torture him. They enhance his taste, touch, sound, smell, and sight making him sensitive to everything around him. Afterwards he's in a room with rotten skulls of men with the female cenobite ready to torture him. The film version he's torture right away.

Characters
In The Hellbound Heart we are introduces to couple Julia and Roy Cotton moving into their new house. In the film, Roy was changed to Larry, but other than that there's no change in personality.  Next Kirsty (no last name) is introduce to be a close family friend of Roy (not Julia). Book Kirsty is sort of the opposite of film Kirsty. Novel version, she's described as plain, shy, passive, with a apologetic attitude, yet very bright. She also has a secret crush on Roy. Sadly her feelings are oblivious to him.

Those familiar with the film know that Kirsty is introduce as Kirsty Cotton, Larry's daughter, Julia's step-daughter, and Frank's niece. It is clearly reasonable why Clive would change Roy's name to Larry just to be on the safe side. Theses changes however don't ruin the story's original plot. Kirsty had a close friendship bond with Roy. Movie Kirsty and Larry share the same close bond, but a father/daughter one. There's no sexual interaction between the two in the novel anyway's so all is good. Oh she also has a boyfriend named Steve, but he only exist in the film.

Kirsty relationship with Julia is very strain. The two women are yin and yang. Julia finds Kirsty's apologetic personality to be annoying and pathetic, so she looks down on the girl. We see her irritation towards Kirsty when she comes to visit her twice. Julia is fully aware of Kirsty's crush on Roy (her husband), but doesn't give a what.

Although Kirsty tries not to be she's jealous of Julia's glamour and her marriage to Roy. She's fully aware of what Julia thinks of her, so she tries to keep a distance between them. The scenes between them are awkward. They can't even start a descent conversation. Though Kirsty would go out of her way to please Roy even if she has to face Julia.

I believe that Clive changing Kirsty's part from family friend to part of the family had made the confrontations between the characters more surreal because drama about family affairs makes a more tragic story. It also makes Kirsty's role more believable and painful. Better than novel Kirsty who just had the wrong place at the wrong time. Losing a father sounds more sad, than losing a friend. Drama's are more personal when it's a family manner. A story about an skinless uncle coming back from hell, murders your father, wears his skin, wants to have his way with you, and your evil step-mother helping him sounds more shakespeare-like. This is the only reason that makes me prefer the movie.

Pinhead and Cenobites
If there's one thing Clive Barker succeeded in doing is creating one of the most iconic horror characters ever known. Pinhead played by none other than Doug Bradley in the first film and eight other sequels.

Pinhead and the cenobites are slightly reimagine in the film, but they receive more dialogue than in the book. In the novel there are four of them, but their genders is uncertain.

"Its clothes, some of which were sewn to and through its skin, hid its private parts, and there was nothing in the dregs of its voice, or in its willfully disfigured features that offered the least clue" (Hellbound Hearts by Clive Barker).

Later we find out the fourth one of the group to be the female cenobite.

None of the cenobite's names were revealed. There is a cenobite describe to have pins on it's heard horizontally and vertically most likely to be Pinhead. Though, the cenobite had an excited girl voice unlike Pinhead in the film. Another interesting fact is that Pinhead is the second cenobite to speak during their first meeting with Frank. The first cenobites to speak was described being covered in hooks that pierced through his flesh and bones. He/she seemed more in charge though Clive excluded this character in the film.  There is hardly any details about the third one, but it does speak.

The Engineer is way different in the novel. It's describe as a small bright sun. Clive definitely changed it's appearance as shown in the picture.

Last thing I want to point out is the ending. It's quiet different than the novel, but not much. Though, I won't get into much details about it. Kirsty does manage to escape, while doing so she meets the Engineer who makes her the box's keeper. Film version Kirsty escapes with boyfriend Steve, they end up at some junk yard where Kirsty disposed the box only to be taken by a skeleton like dragon and flies away with it. (Comic Hellraiser: Dark Watch, described it as custodian of hell's devices).

Conclusion
There's many other things that I didn't mention or go into great detail. Such as Frank's mission of finding the puzzle box, Julia's miserable life, and the mysteries of unsolved puzzles of life, plus more. It's best to read the book because all books contain more details. This one's a must!