Gerald's Game (Mike Flanagan, 2017): A Twisted Sex Adventure Gone Wrong

Based on the book by Stephen King, Gerald's Game is a captivating and frighteningly pragmatical Psychological horror that most certainly hypnotises the spectator. Only being released a week or so ago, there has been varied opinions, although everyone can agree on the same opinion, that this is certainly one messed up film. It has become rapidly popular, also due to the fact that the film is accessible on Netflix. It is 103 minutes of suspense, and boy does it give you everything gruesome.

This film does rely on the diegetic sounds, or lack of for this matter. As being an essential "one location" film for the majority of it. It is also important to remember that even though we see an arrange of characters throughout the narrative, it's all in Jessie Burlingame's (Carla Gugino) head. This plays on the psychological aspect of the film, which most definitely intrigues me. After her husband relays his dark sexual fantasy upon her, he subsequently suffers a heart attack and drops dead, leaving her hand cuffed to the bed, everyones worst nightmare, am I right? Upon this we go on a journey with her subconscious, which fascinates the spectator of course. We find out dark parts of her past, we get an insight of a typical "angel and devil on shoulders" angle, which perpetuates throughout the whole text. The battle to survive becomes more intense, and most definitely gruesome, which indefinitely makes it difficult for the spectator to watch, yet we press on.

Symbolism is used widely throughout the text, which not every spectator would notice instantly, but it becomes clear throughout. The symbols/props make the narrative more logical and less bizarre in its own way. The close up and follow of the phone and water are examples of these. The whole narrative can be seen as an art, it is so intricate in detail yet in such a broad manner. The whole idea of speaking to your recently deceased husband and your subconscious doesn't seem too far fetched, then again, in what reality would you be handcuffed to a bed after a romantic getaway 'home wrong'. We become attached to Jessie due to these unfortunate circumstances, the spectator sees a side to Jessie that possibly no one in the narrative has ever seen, which draws us in and the connection strengthens. Even the tension of the scenes as the days progress makes it even more gripping.

If you have read the Stephen King novel, you will have already had an insight into King's twisted mind, so seeing a adaptation of the book is not only something that intrigues, but can also concern. Yes there may have been a few anomalies and issues (mainly concerning the ending as it was just completely illogical, but that's a subjective opinion of course) but not every adaptation can be completely perfect, nevertheless, I digress. It brings the gore, the insanity and the intensity. So if these are all important factors to you, or even if you're a horror fanatic or a lover of Stephen King, then this is certainly a must see.

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