Misery’s Infamous Hobbling Scene Is MUCH Worse in Stephen King’s Book

The infamous Misery hobbling scene where Annie Wilkes breaks Paul Sheldon’s ankles with a sledgehammer is the stuff of cinematic legend, but what she did to him in Stephen King’s book was worse. Misery is one of King’s more intimate tales of terror, focusing on almost entirely on two characters in a single room, and director Rob Reiner’s 1990 movie adaptation kept this claustrophobic intimacy. Misery saw Kathy Bates as Annie and James Caan as Paul turn in excellent, captivating performances as a psychopathic fan and the writer she takes hostage. However, one moment in Misery has ensured the movie is still being discussed over three decades since releasing — the scene where Annie breaks Paul’s ankles with a sledgehammer.