Though
some would argue her nude hot-tub scene in About Schmidt is scarier,
nobody can deny that the infamous "Hobbling Scene" in Misery is
certainly one of the most painful scenes ever captured on film. When
I first saw this, the entire audience screamed, "AAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
in unison at the climax of this scene. Here's how it plays out.
Annie Wilkes is pissed because her favorite author Paul Sheldon
(played by James Caan), who is recovering from a car accident, tried
to escape her "hospitable" care. How could this dirty bird do such a
thing to his NUMBER ONE FAN?
She
places a large board between his ankles, that are already strapped to
the bed.
Takes a
large swing just like Jason Giambi (only she actually connects)...
And
HOL-LEEEEE SHIT! Smacks his ankle so hard it knocks it 90 degrees to
the left.
Needless to say, it kind of hurts! There's actually a dinner theater
version of Misery playing right here in Sacramento (my proud
hometown) on a riverboat. I can think of no better event to watch
while I'm eating a steak dinner, than watching a man get his ankle
blown apart by a sledgehammer! If you get a chance, catch the
Saturday Night Live episode in which Roseanne Barr and Dana Carvey do
an excellent Misery parody (she's the Church Lady's Number One Fan).
