Will She Survive "Gerald's Game?"

Film adaptations of the works of Stephen King have become so numerous, that they could easily fill several sections at your local video store; that is, if you still have a local video store. Because there are so many of them, not every movie can be as memorable as Carrie, The Shawshank Redemption, or It. Sometimes you get a film as atmospheric as The Dead Zone, other times you get the not scary (and not very good) 2003 version of Dreamcatcher.  Writer-director Mike Flanagan, who scored a critical and audience success in 2018 with the Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, turned his attention toward the works of King with a chilling version of the King's 1992 novel Gerald’s Game.

Gerald’s Game (2017) stars Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood as a couple who decide to go on a weekend getaway to try to re-ignite the passion in their marriage. Gerald (Greenwood) thinks if they add a bit of kinkiness in the bedroom, it might help. What happens is (spoilers ahead) is that Jessie (Gugino) ends up handcuffed to the bed, and after an argument between them, Gerald dies of a heart attack. Since they’re staying at an isolated location, there’s no one to help Jessie. She begins to see ghostly manifestations of both Gerald (in a well-acted, nicely nuanced turn by Greenwood) and herself, who converse with her, and in turn taunt, cajole, challenge and infuriate her. A stray dog that Jessie spotted earlier in the day also plays into the proceedings.

As Jessie contemplates how to escape her predicament, her thoughts begin to wander, and she recalls a terrible instance of abuse from her childhood, one which she has buried deep in her mind. How did that incident shape the person she is today? How will she free herself from those restraints? Who is the mysterious, ghostly figure that appears to her in the corner of the room? Director and co-writer Flanagan effectively creates an atmosphere of mounting terror and intensity as Jessie deals with nightmares which are both real and imagined. Gugino (who was excellent as the mother in Flanagan’s Hill House) is outstanding as Jessie. She powerfully conveys the character’s fear, confusion and constantly shifting state of mind, but also displays her inner spirit and sheer force of will. It’s a terrific performance that anchors the film, and holds our interest throughout.

The terrors in Gerald’s Game are (for the most part) psychological in nature, and the monsters are (all too) human. Ultimately, it’s a story of resilience and having the strength to move beyond your past. Flanagan and his cast (which also includes Henry Thomas and Kate Siegel, both of whom appeared in Hill House) and crew have done an excellent job adapting King’s novel. Gerald’s Game is a riveting thriller with a strong emotional core and depth of character that are not always evident in films of this type. Based on his work here and on The Haunting Of Hill House, as well as earlier projects like Hush and Oculus, Mike Flanagan is proving himself to be one of the best filmmakers currently working in the horror genre. I highly recommend checking out this film, and the other movies mentioned in this review. Gerald's Game is currently streaming on Netflix. Here’s a link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twbGU2CqqQU. The movie is currently streaming on Netflix.