The history of a ‘meat of many uses’

The history of a ‘meat of many uses’

Annie Wilkes, the homicidal kidnapper played by Kathy Bates in the film Misery (1990), wields a special meatloaf recipe. Her secret? “I only use fresh tomatoes, never canned. And to give it that little extra zip, I mix in some Spam with the ground beef.” Her victim, Paul (James Caan), feigns interest with a curdled half-smile. The Spammy meal here is evidently commensurate with Annie’s frumpy dresses, fussy decor and old-fashioned mores. In Amer…