Detail how the main characters (Annie Wilkes and Paul Sheldon) are established through the mise-en-scene in the film Misery (1990)

The film opens with protagonist Paul Sheldon sat typing at his desk. The order and ritual shown in his actions suggests that he is the one with psychotic tendencies as opposed to the character of Annie Wilkes, revealed later in the film, who comes across as somewhat scatty. This need for order from Paul is confirmed by the owner of the Silver Creek Lodge who says “He doesn’t like things to be out of the ordinary” and recalls the ritualistic approach Paul has to writing his books. Later on in the film when forced to write a new book by Annie he manages to write what she describes as “His best book yet” despite the change in circumstances and pressure he is under. 

When leaving the Silver Creek Lodge there is direct binary opposition in the choice of music playing, a rather upbeat ‘groovy’ song which is playing in the car when the blizzard starts and carries on when he crashes the car. Another example of binary opposition in the crash is the colour of Paul’s red shirt against the white snow letting the viewer aware that he’s badly hurt and in immediate danger.

Paul awakes in a homely yet isolated cottage which is when the character of Annie Wilkes is introduced. She portrayed as a stereotypical mother figure, dressed in rather motherly clothes and shown as quite ruddy. Although she says she’s a nurse she has an odd approach to showing Paul his legs, she appears to get glee and pride from the sight of his legs. What first seems to be empathy for Paul’s pain is questioned when she smiles and seems to focus on her handy work as opposed to his pain; she doesn’t shy away from showing him his legs. 

It’s made clear that she wears a cross as it’s always visible and on display, combined with her role as a nurse and her motherly way tending to Paul makes her seem quite charitable at first.
The bed with Paul in is placed centrally in the room and the cameras focus on him in the middle as if she has him on display the idea of her keeping him as a trophy is  supported whilst she’s shaving him and cleaning him up, as if she’s making him presentable for something. Annie uses a cut throat razor as opposed to a more modern day razor to shave Paul, the viewer is made to feel rather on edge through this by the close up on the throat.


She says “All done, like a baby” making him appear helpless and enhancing her motherly nature, the idea of binary opposition comes in to play here as she says how much she admires him and how great he is. He is obviously successful as his agent’s talks of his wealth at start of film, yet he is being cared for by this homely woman, living in small town; showing a strong and obvious power reversal.
The way she speaks to him, very subtle at first, is often quite commanding as in he should thank her, good thing she was there which as the film and her character develops turns into look what you’ve made me do as her psychotic side becomes more prevalent.