This is the Stephen King novel that was once considered unfilmable. Until Mike Flanagan came along, of course.
Jessie and her husband Gerald travel to their isolated lake house to rekindle their romance. After handcuffing Jessie to the bed to indulge in one of his hidden fantasies, he has an unexpected heart attack, leaving Jessie alone and stranded.
Now the reason people thought this book was unfilmable was down to the fact that a majority of it is Jessie alone in a room. I haven’t read the original book, so I don’t know how close this is to its source material. With the use of Jessie’s imagination and some pretty strong flashbacks the movie more than makes up for its lack of characters and locations.
Carla Gugino really carries the film well. I’ve seen her in a few things before but she usually plays more of a supporting role rather than taking the lead. Here she plays two personas. Jessie, the victim cuffed to the bed with days to live, and Jessie, the survivor in her head who has freed herself and encouraging the real one to do the same. Who says horror can’t be deep and meaningful?
I’ve now come to the conclusion that Bruce Greenwood is the American Sean Bean. A majority of the films I’ve seen him in he’s died in. I won’t name what and spoil them. He has a much larger role in the movie than you would think, acting as part of Jessie’s subconscious. He actually comes in quite handy.
This has got to be one of my favourite Stephen King adaptations as of late. I’ve become quite the fan of Mike Flanagan, especially after binging The Haunting of Hill House last year. I like that he has a small cast of actors that he uses regularly, like Gina, his wife Kate, and Henry Thomas. It’s like when Tim Burton uses Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. It feels comfortable.
This movie legitimately bothered me in a way that very few other movies have. If you’ve seen it, you’ll know what happens to her hand, which is uncomfortable and gross. There’s also the “Moonlight Man” who, when you overthink it, is seriously creepy. That’s all I’m going to say there.
Gerald’s Game is insanely entertaining, which given how minimal it is, is a true testament to Flanagan’s filmmaking.
Where to watch: Justwatch
Linsey Loves Horror 