After an accident, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued by a nurse who claims to be his biggest fan. Her obsession takes a dark turn when she holds him captive in her remote Colorado home and forces him to write back to life the popular literary character he killed off.
Acting
Kathy Bates invented unhinged — Oscar-worthy terror in a cardigan.
Writing
Stephen King's meta-horror about writing while literally captive.
Director
Rob Reiner
Kathy Bates
Annie Wilkes
James Caan
Paul Sheldon
Richard Farnsworth
Buster
Lauren Bacall
Marcia Sindell
Frances Sternhagen
Virginia
Graham Jarvis
Libby
Jerry Potter
Pete
Thomas Brunelle
Anchorman
June Christopher
Anchorwoman
Julie Payne
Reporter #1
Archie Hahn
Reporter #2
Gregory Snegoff
Reporter #3
Rob Reiner
Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
J.T. Walsh
State Trooper Sherman Douglas (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bates beat out five other actresses; she and Caan famously didn't get along, which Reiner used to fuel their on-screen tension.
The 'hobbling' scene was originally more graphic in King's novel — the film's sledgehammer became iconic and arguably more disturbing for what it implies.
US
