A Stephen King adaptation on Netflix is reportedly making some viewers feel physically ill. The 2017 film 'Gerald's Game', based on King's 1992 novel, has been described by the author himself as 'hypnotic and horrifying'.
The film follows Jessie (Carla Gugino) and her husband Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) as they retreat to a secluded lake house to spice up their marriage. However, their kinky role-play takes a deadly turn when Gerald suffers a heart attack and dies, leaving Jessie handcuffed to the bed and utterly alone.
Directed by Mike Flanagan, best known for 'The Haunting of Hill House', the film relies on psychological terror and claustrophobia rather than gore. Despite its simple premise, it has earned a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Gugino's 'career-defining performance'.
Viewers have taken to social media to share their visceral reactions. One wrote on Netflix Bangers: '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 described the climax as 'bone-chilling'.
King himself was full of praise after seeing an early cut, calling the film 'hypnotic, horrifying, and terrific'. Flanagan, who had long considered the novel his 'dream project', said King emailed him after release to express his love for the adaptation, a message he promptly framed.
