Misery

Misery is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Kathy Bates's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Misery earns its spot. The plotting in Misery is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. 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. The writing gets a boost from Kathy Bates and James Caan, who sell every scene they're in. Misery came out in 1990. What makes Misery hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Misery delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Kathy Bates carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.