Annie Wilkes Mise-en-scene Analysis

In the film Misery, directed by Rob Reiner and based on the Stephen King Novel of the same name, a lot of information can be inferred about the character of Annie Wilkes (played by actress Kathy Bates) through the films use of mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene describes several aspects of a film including: costume and makeup, setting, figure expression, lighting and props.

The costume Kathy Bates wears during her performance comprises predominantly of the colour black, a colour associated with security and emotional safety. This gives viewers the idea that she is protecting the character Paul Sheldon in the beginning of the film, however black can also be associated with both oppression and menace – allowing for an easy change in the viewers opinions towards her as the film progresses.

The costume itself appears to be fairly religious and nurse-like in origins. This reinforces the idea that Annie is a kind and caring character at the beginning of the film and gives context to her actions and psyche when her past is revealed to the audience.

Annie Wilkes’ house becomes the main setting of the film after the first act is completed and it shows the audience a lot about her character. The house appears to be very clean and meticulously sorted - as shown by her knowledge of the direction the penguin is facing – this shows us that Annie Wilkes is a very obsessive person and is in control. This amplifies the audience’s feelings of unease towards her “helping” Paul Sheldon.

There are many aspects of the setting which amplify the notion that Annie Wilkes is heavily secluded. The long driveway which is utilised to build tension in the film is just as much a metaphor for how distant the outside world has become for Annie since her divorce. The many locks on her door can show us that her character doesn’t want to interact with anything outside of her house.

The figure expression of the character changes very quickly and often throughout the play. Sometimes her expression can change from being very innocent and childlike to near instantly changing to become very forceful and strong. This would give the audience a sense that she is unpredictable. Annie Wilkes’ unpredictability is a driving tension for the character of Paul Sheldon throughout the film.

Earlier parts of the film show Annie as a kinder authority as the later parts do and this is reflected well in the lighting of the character. High key lighting is used more often on the character during the earlier, “kinder” moments of the character whilst more low key lighting is used closer to the final depictions of Annie Wilkes. The lighting is used to reflect the progression of the character from a lighter mental state to a darker mental state – if you’ll pardon the pun.

There aren’t too many props that reflect solely on Annie’s character throughout the film, but the few that do give the audience a drastic change to their ideas on her. For example, the sledgehammer prop is used later in the film to assert her dominance and to shock the viewer once we believe that Paul Sheldon is safe. The crowbar the character uses at the beginning of the film begin to show the audience that Annie is a very strong and potentially dangerous character. The other props (such as her cross, her books and idols) and the way she interacts with them reveal that Annie is childlike in nature.

To sum up, the character of Annie Wilkes is shown to be twisted, bipolar and threatening throughout the film, but the main thing the character is shown to be is broken.