As the only film adaptation of the Stephen King oeuvre to be anointed with Oscar gold, Rob Reiner’s Misery is quintessential psychological horror with a heaping helping of shock and awe. Fueled by a villain whose name is virtually synonymous with toxic fan culture and made memorable by one indelible sledgehammer hobbling, the film is an acknowledged classic, and yet it is not typically the first film referenced in discussions of King’s cinematic adaptations. Misery has generated memes, collectibles, and fan art that has kept it in the pop culture zeitgeist but critical scholarship has not been quite as prolific. In honor of the film’s impending 30th anniversary, our second special issue of Horror Homeroom seeks to rectify that oversight.
Related: Check out special issue #1 on Friday the 13th, which you can read online or as a flipbook or download for free.
We invite submissions on any aspect of Misery for a special issue celebrating this anniversary milestone. Emerging and advanced scholars, popular writers, and fans are invited to submit abstracts that explore the film from any angle. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
- The function of claustrophobia within Misery
- The role Victorian romance novels (and their readers) play within the film and/or novel
- How the film reflects and challenges 1990s horror film conventions
- The gender implications of positioning Annie Wilkes as the “monster”
- How the film relates to other King film adaptations
- Misery as a representation of toxic fan culture
- Depictions of female rage and psychosis
- Queer readings of Annie Wilkes
- Comparative analysis of film and novel
Please submit abstracts of 500 words and a brief bio to Dawn Keetley and Elizabeth Erwin at horrorhomeroom@gmail.com and dek7@lehigh.edu by July 1, 2020. Articles will be limited to 2,500 words and should be written for a general audience. Completed essays will be due September 1, 2020 in order to ensure publication on the 30th anniversary of Misery. We welcome all questions and inquiries!
