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| Scene from Gerald's Game |
At the end of September, it's now impossible to escape the work of Stephen King. 2017 has been kind to the horror writer, producing his most successful adaptation with IT currently on the big screen and the surprisingly good Mr. Mercedes warming up TVs. Well, Netflix couldn't escape the writer's best month in several years with director Mike Flanagan's Gerald's Game. It may be one of his less recognized stories, but it also presents the psychological turmoil in ways far more exciting than its limited premise would have you suggest. It's a story of intimacy gone awry, yet it's also evidence that the "King of Horror" doesn't need literal monsters to move the audience. Sometimes it takes nothing more than handcuffs on a bedpost to bring out another one of his best adaptations in quite some time.
On the surface, it looks like a film that goes against the stereotypical King premise. A loving couple gets ready for some kinky action only to have it turn south. As Tom (E.T.'s Henry Thomas) falls of medical complications, Jessie (Carla Gugino) now must figure out how to escape. Sure, there's a series of obstacles cleverly inserted into the one location, but it's also one that allows the story to go into interesting directions. This isn't just a story of a woman trying to escape handcuffs. It's a story of intimacy and her attraction to problematic men. It's a world grounded in an earnest sense of realism that King rarely gets credit for. Even as he relies on a few supernatural plot devices, he still makes it feel grounded in horror of the heart. To an extent, the third act has its predictable moments, but Flanagan never lets that step in the way of a more compelling character piece - albeit with some worthy cringe-inducing moments.
A lot of the credit must be given to Gugino, whose role is deceptively physical as she manages to make limited movement play to her advantage. She gives a performance that's full of dread, but also of confidence that requires her to escape. She shouldn't die in this nightmare scenario. As she talks to disembodied versions of herself and Tom, she uncovers a past that is full of staggering details. What is probably King's best element is his growing empathy for exploring trauma. While IT will likely get more credit for this, there's still something in Gerald's Game that manages to be empowering even at its most sadistic moment. Jessie may not yet be King's most memorable female protagonist, but Gugino forces you not to change that perception. She may be grounded in a tragic past, but it doesn't define her future.
There's plenty of symbolism here that puts the story above average King movies. There are real characters hidden underneath even the more supernatural elements. The fact that a small room could be made the grounds for an elaborate character study reveals just how smart King could be. It may be a smaller part to a bigger picture, but it's the one necessary to feel the dread. The feeling of being tied to an uncomfortable situation full of grotesque surroundings is horrifying. Maybe metaphors aren't as scary as Pennywise, but the maturity underneath the familiar horror is an excellent touch, and elevates this story from pulp with potentially poorly placed eroticism to something far more interesting. To see Jessie grapple with herself is something that is inherently interesting, and thankfully King doesn't shy away from a story that balances its sentiments with a depressing heart.
Gerald's Game may be a little less accessible than IT, but that isn't an issue. This is an adult version of what King could be. This story wants to challenge the viewer to think about their own relationships and understand what their love means. There's some gore and it does get uncomfortable, but this is what happens when the author of "Cujo" and "Salem's Lot" grows up. He's still demented, but he's also looking at his own life in interesting ways. Thankfully Flanagan knows how to bring that to life in gripping detail. It's a plot of novelty, but it still manages to convey the best of what King has to offer. Gugino gives a great performance worthy of attention and grounds a story that could've easily gone off the rails. Gerald's Game is pretty much a miracle, like a good marriage. Still, it's evidence that 2017 is the year of the King. And it isn't over. See you on October 20 for Netflix's *other* adaptation 1922.
Gerald's Game may be a little less accessible than IT, but that isn't an issue. This is an adult version of what King could be. This story wants to challenge the viewer to think about their own relationships and understand what their love means. There's some gore and it does get uncomfortable, but this is what happens when the author of "Cujo" and "Salem's Lot" grows up. He's still demented, but he's also looking at his own life in interesting ways. Thankfully Flanagan knows how to bring that to life in gripping detail. It's a plot of novelty, but it still manages to convey the best of what King has to offer. Gugino gives a great performance worthy of attention and grounds a story that could've easily gone off the rails. Gerald's Game is pretty much a miracle, like a good marriage. Still, it's evidence that 2017 is the year of the King. And it isn't over. See you on October 20 for Netflix's *other* adaptation 1922.
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