Misery (1990) - Sheriff Buster's death full scene

Misery is a 1990 American psychological horror-thriller film directed by Rob Reiner, with a screenplay by William Goldman, based off of Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name. The film follows Paul Sheldon (James Caan) the author of a successful series of Victorian romantic drama novels, who is badly injured in a car wreck while returning to his home in New York City from rural Colorado. He is rescued from the crash by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), a retired nurse and a dedicated fan of Paul's novels, who takes him to her home to recuperate. However, when Annie reacts violently to the revelation that the novels' main character, Misery Chastain, will be killed off in the series, Paul soon realizes that Annie is dangerously mentally disturbed, and must find a way to escape her home, with death lurking around every corner.

Misery was released in the United States on November 30, 1990; it was a box office success, grossing $61.3 million against a $20 million budget, and was critically praised, with Bates' performance receiving acclaim from critics. At the 63rd Academy Awards, Bates won the Oscar for Best Actress, making Misery the only film adaptation of a King novel to win an Academy Award. King praised the adaptation, calling it one of his top ten favorite film adaptations. Misery was the first King film adaptation to star Bates in a leading role; she would later perform as the title character in Taylor Hackford's 1995 adaptation of Dolores Claiborne (1992), which also drew praise from critics.

In this scene, Sheriff Buster of Silver Creek, Colorado, becomes suspicious of Annie after learning that the local shopkeeper has sold Annie a large supply of typing paper. He pays her a visit, where she warmly greets him, having knocked Paul out with a sedative and trapped him in the basement. He searches the house and finds nearly no evidence of Paul's presence, and prepares to leave, but Paul makes a noise in the basement; when Buster finds the now-conscious Paul, Annie kills him with a double-barreled shotgun and attempts to incapacitate Paul for her planned murder-suicide, but he dissuades her by agreeing to her plans on the condition that she allow him to finish the novel. She returns his wheelchair and leaves to prepare him a meal.

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[thatcherdoingcoolstuff]

In the book the Sheriff is not the sheriff, but a very young cop who has a picture of Paul. Paul is still in his room while the cop is outside, so to get his attention he throws an ash tray out the window. Annie murders him in a very gruesome way, stabbing him with a piece of wood before running him over with a lawnmower. Throughout the story, more cops come, but Paul does not try to get their attention because over time he decides he wants to kill Annie himself.

[leivasacade]

She opened to the door before the sheriff knocked so he would think she was agitated from getting scared, instead of carrying Paul down the stairs. That´s some smart thinking right there

[byronsenior]

Feel bad for this guy, he was actually trying to do his job. When I first watched this I thought he'd be the kind of cop that doesn't give a damn about their job.

[salviaofficinalis]

The manic phases, depressive episodes, blackouts, rage attacks, confused thinking...Misery is the ultimate guide to anyone interested in studying psychology, Annie Wilkes is the go to guide to mental illness at it's most extreme, and Kathy Bates does an uncanny impression of someone ultimately detached from other peoples' emotions and needs.

[LPJack]

RIP Richard Farnsworth (September 1, 1920 – October 6, 2000), aged 80
And
RIP James Caan (March 26, 1940 – July 6, 2022), aged 82
You both will be remembered as legends.

[sdkelmaruecan]

As heartbreaking as his death was, his visit saved Paul, not just because he could get the lighter fluid but because police investigation following Buster's absence would inevitably lead to Annie's house, had he just killed her with nobody knowing where he is, he would have certainly died. Of course Buster could have been more careful... but there had to be a climactic fight between Annie and Paul.

[pianoman]

Annie and her "shrine" to Paul Sheldon definitely puts up a red flag for the sheriff. He then noticed all of the nursing/clinical supplies on the shelves adjacent to the door as he was leaving Annie's "writing" room makes the sheriff all the more suspicious. He knows that Annie is too cool and calculated in her persona. Smart man for not drinking the hot cocoa!

[davidsallade]

It’s been years since I seen this. Kathy Bates gave the most incredible performance in this film.

[williamhufnagel]

Imagine having to crawl over the dead Sheriff with broken legs up a flight of narrow stairs... Just to face the person who wants to murder you...

[Boygonebad]

Such a great likable character. Hated that he got killed.

[listentothenightfilms]

0:38 scary as hell. Annie doesn't give a shit that Paul has a daughter he's missing, an entire life somewhere else with other people. He's hers now. She had that syringe pre-loaded for such an event.

[deloneymompremier]

Makes me wonder what goes on in Stephen King's head. Truly a great author. Left me terrified

[TLG]

We have to develop a sense of trust Says the woman who smashed his ankles

[houseviceroy]

Sheriff should of let deputies know he was checking this place out, when he went missing the whole department would of been under suspicion and probably found everything

[Kwaj]

0:38 Hearing Annie's approaching footsteps before seeing her storm into the room with the needle in her hand STILL scares me to this day.

[excalibur]

Annie: I do everything for you. When are you going to start trusting me?

Also Annie: I held you hostage, I made you burn your book when I didn’t like it, I forced you to write another book the way I wanted, I locked you in a room, passively threatened you with a gun, left my scrapbook out and found out I was a murderer, broke your ankles, and hid you away when you were about to be found.

And she was surprised he fought her and didn’t trust her?

[danksmeme]

All those other emotions Annie displayed throughout the movie up until this point. Anger. Giddiness. Sadness. Pain. Blood Boiling Rage.

But her reaction to brutually killing Buster?

_Nothing. Absolutely Nothing But Cold Determination._

[porito]

My legs! Now I'm gonna have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair!

[fidgetypenguin]

I love how Kathy Bates changes tone and demeanor when she has her different episodes of mania and depression.

[joemueller]

Kathy bates is really one of the greatest actresses ever her composure in this scene really gives a good example of her great sense of the role she portrays