A chilling adaptation of a Stephen King novel is gripping Netflix audiences, with some viewers confessing the intense psychological horror left them feeling physically unwell. The film, Gerald's Game, continues to haunt subscribers years after its initial 2017 release.
A Terrifying Premise
The plot of Gerald's Game is brutally simple. Jessie, portrayed by Carla Gugino, and her husband Gerald, played by Bruce Greenwood, retreat to a secluded lake house in a bid to spice up their marriage. What begins as a kinky role-play session takes a devastating turn when Gerald suffers a fatal heart attack, leaving Jessie handcuffed to the bed, completely alone and helpless.
Trapped in her isolation, Jessie's mind begins to unravel. The film, directed by Mike Flanagan, the mastermind behind The Haunting of Hill House, forgoes typical jump scares. Instead, it delves deep into her deteriorating psyche, presenting horrifying hallucinations, disembodied voices, and the confrontation of long-buried trauma in a way that feels terrifyingly real.
Critical Acclaim and Viewer Reactions
The film has earned significant critical praise, holding an impressive 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 81 reviews. The consensus highlights Gugino's career-defining performance, noting her ability to carry the film with 'small-scale suspense'.
Perhaps the most significant seal of approval came from the author himself. Stephen King watched a rough cut and described the movie as 'hypnotic, horrifying, and terrific'. Director Mike Flanagan revealed to The Independent that he was so thrilled by King's positive email that he printed and framed it for his living room.
However, it's the visceral reaction from everyday viewers that is currently causing a stir online. Many have taken to social media and review sites to share their extreme physical responses to the film's climactic scenes.
One viewer posted on the website Netflix Bangers, warning others: 'Be careful. The big climactic scene made me sick to my stomach. I had to take a break before I could come back and finish watching it.'
Another review on Rotten Tomatoes stated: 'The climax is bone-chilling, although a departure from the original story. For a genuine experience of dread, horror, and monstrosity writ large, watch this now.'
Bringing the 'Unfilmable' to Life
Behind the scenes, Gerald's Game was a passion project for director Mike Flanagan. He had carried the novel around for half his life, determined to adapt what was widely considered an 'unfilmable' book. In the mid-2010s, he seriously pitched the idea, partnering with producer Trevor Macy at Intrepid Pictures to bring the claustrophobic nightmare to the screen.
Flanagan noted that Stephen King is very hands-on with adaptations of his work, reviewing scripts and staying abreast of the process, an involvement the director said he greatly appreciated.
The result is a masterclass in psychological tension that continues to captivate and disturb a new audience on Netflix, proving that the most profound horror often comes not from monsters, but from the confines of our own minds.
