Misery: Book vs Movie (Stephen King's Book)

one of my favorites of the year so far!
i can't wait to watch the movie (right after my exams haha)

My grandmother was a big Stephen King reader. She let me borrow books and often rented King movies for us to watch. I'll never forget the "ankle scene", the first time I watched it...😱 🤣

The book is obviously way better than the movie, but I actually preferred the ending where Paul actually burns the Misery's Return manuscript, I think it would've been a lot more satisfying for Paul burning the manuscript that he didn't want to write in the first place and with it manifest his triumph over Annie. With him keeping the manuscript is like saying 'thank you dear' to Annie for torturing him into writing it and so with the death of Misery's Return, Annie Wilkes can reach it in the lowest levels of hell.

Really enjoyed seeing the comparisons. The first book I read starting in 2022 was Misery - that's what got me into reading. I haven't seen the movie yet, I've only watched Pet Sematary, which left a sour taste in my mouth. However, I've heard great things about Misery, and seeing the comparisons here was really fun and has motivated me to finally watch it myself! Great video, as always!

Both are great in their own ways. Kathy Bates is a goddam gem!

Oh this one is gonna ruffle some feathers, but I think the movie is a little better than the book. I just found it more entertaining.
Great video as always :)

Wow, that really hit home how bloody long ago I read Misery. Probably about 25 years. There’s so much of that I’d forgotten.

I think the only comparison that I disagreed with on, is the hobbling scene. It may have been more gruesome in the book, but the sledgehammer scene in the movie has become iconic. Like the dinner scene in Alien or ‘Here’s Johnny’ in the Shining.

King’s scene was fantastic, but Reiner, Bates and Caan created a scene that transcends the movie into just a huge pop culture moment.

Damn, I’m gonna have to reread Misery

I understand your reasoning for preferring the book to the film, and I agree that S. King is a fine story-teller, as apposed to a 'great writer'. I sometimes feel his books are too over the top - that a good editor would come in handy. I feel he sometimes ventures too close to the absurd (particularly in books such as 'Misery'), to the point that it takes me out of the story for the moment, as I roll my eyes. Cormac McCarthy, for example, could write the most horrific stories, but his prose style was almost lyrical, while 'Misery' can feel near to cartoonish. 'Misery' is still a good story, and an interestingly personal story on King's part, but I feel the film is more 'mature' than the book. Just my opinion. :)

The biggest detail for me was the graphic depiction of his wounds.

This is the book that turned me on to Stephen King, I will forever cherish it for that reason. The movie was fun as well but the book was more sinister 😈

Incredible story, truly terrifying

Bro you have the best reviews of King's work! I love it. Keep up the good work!

This was a fantastic review and comparison! Our book club read the book and watched the movie so we loved seeing your take on this. I agree, Annie of the book is terrifying, the ending is fabulous. The movie is also awesome. James Caan does not get enough credit for this film.

This book is definitely in my top 5 of stories of all time! I think kings use of language in this book was at its peak, i kinda wished he still wrote like this, though I think that has more to do with publishers and what he's allowed to put out. I love how in the book, even though you know from the start that Annie is out of pocket, there will be moments you almost like Annie as a character. Like that scene where he wakes up calling for Annie to help him into his chair to write a scene in Miserys Return. Definitely one of the best antagonists in fiction.

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Big fan

Great video, good editing, I'm blown away that this doesn't have more views.

I've read hundreds of books in my life and I'm confident that the lawnmower scene is the craziest and most gruesome kills I've ever read. I think what makes it so intense isn't the gore but the fact that we think that Paul is finally about to get rescued and no one else knows he's in there but the deputy. I read this years ago and thinking about it now still gives me chills. 😵

❤

I think the biggest difference between the book and movie would have been nearly impossible to show- Paul went from an injured but able man to a junky wraith over the course of half a year, babbling with fear and dread, wispy and thin and filthy

In the movie she didn't leave him in the cellar with rats while she left for a while.

The original Alan Wake

i thought it said 1.3m views cuz of the high quality

Paul growing a lil foot like Deadpool immediately came to mind 😂

put the book down

i sympathise 👆just seen movie; aint read book

When she crushes the rat n then sucks the flood off her fingers ?!?! That's for sure the most gruesome part left out of the film

They apparently did have plans to do the lawnmower scene but cut it for ratings reasons. Kathy Bates was supposedly very disappointed.

I think I may be mentally damaged. When i hear people give warnings for upcoming unpleasantries via spoilers I think something truly horrific must be ahead. Then when they say it i cant help but feel like people are incredibly soft or have trouble keeping fiction separate from reality. Its a weird thing to hear younger generations say "unalive" or other forms of self censorship knowing what was lost to gain the ability to express ones self how they choose to.

I think toning down the voilence helped the film in a small way to win an acadamy award.

*spoilers*definitely read the book!
I'm glad I watched the movie AFTER reading. I honestly was so excited to watch it but was disappointed.. Aspects were taken out and felt rushed. The book, his inner monologue, the time spent there from winter to summer. It really helped feel the time passing like we were there with him. Removing the lawnmower scene, taking the axe scene away and thumbs, changing the final fight scene slightly, I thought the fight was executed well but I imaged her more on fire. Also adding the dinner scene I liked even if it was different. I think the inner monologue and his thoughts really helped.