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GERALD'S GAME IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR THRILLER THAT LEFT CRITICS AND AUDIENCES FLOORED 14:00, 29 May 2025Updated 14:17, 29 May 2025 Mike Flanagan's 2017 psychological

horror-thriller, Gerald's Game, left viewers and critics stunned upon its release, as evidenced by its impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Now available on Netflix, this film

adaptation of Stephen King's 1992 novel – long considered impossible to translate onto the big screen – features Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood as the main characters. Gerald's

Game follows the terrifying story of a married couple, Jessie and Gerald, who embark on a secluded retreat, only for Gerald to suddenly succumb to a fatal heart attack, leaving Jessie locked

to their bed with no apparent means of escape. Jessie's desperate struggle to survive, compounded by her inner turmoil, is masterfully conveyed in this gripping film, which earned high

praise from none other than Stephen King himself, who tweeted: "Saw a rough cut of Mike Flanagan's GERALD'S GAME yesterday. Horrifying, hypnotic, terrific. It's gonna

freak you out." Discussing her role in the film, Carla Gugino told Buzzfeed: "It was always considered an un-adaptable book by Stephen King. Also, someone was attached to play the

role before. So, from the moment that I spoke to Mike Flanagan to the moment we were filming 'Gerald's Game,' it was literally two weeks.", reports the Daily Record.

"So, to come on to that role in that project, in which I was chained to a bed within that period of time, was a real risk. And I thought, 'We're either going to do something

really special here, or this is the end of my career.' You know what I mean? There's no middle ground here. I'm so thankful that it was the former." Gerald's Game

has been receiving rave reviews and is a must-watch for those who enjoy psychological horror. One critic praised the film saying: "Unsurprisingly, the film is [Mike Flanagan's]

most accomplished to date, the result of the years he's spent giving a damn about his characters and their anguish. He's so good at it, he even makes it look easy." Another

reviewer added: "Finally, after the abysmal The Dark Tower and the overhyped It, we have a Stephen King adaptation that's worthy of the brand." While one critic stated:

"Writer-director Mike Flanagan and co-writer Jeff Howard have turned Gerald's Game into one of the most compelling, eerie, memorable Stephen King adaptations to date." Another

added: "Gerald's Game is a symphony of suspense and scares, spiked with just the right amount of gruesome gore." Audience reviews were equally complimentary. One viewer was

captivated by the film's unexpected depth, remarking: "This movie is an enigma. On paper, it sounds like a boring movie: a woman is stuck, handcuffed to a bed for a long time, she

eventually escapes. It was considered unfilmable for quite a while. But Mike Flanagan did a great job with this film and at this point, it's like he's physically incapable of

making a bad King adaptation." Article continues below Another cinema-goer praised the film's edge-of-the-seat quality, saying: "This movie was one of the most disturbing and

suspenseful movies I have ever watched, and it was awesome. Sometimes the plot and story were a little slow and boring, but it was worth it to feel the intensity of the movie. Another great

adaptation of Stephen King's work! I enjoyed watching it, I highly recommend it for fans of horror and thrillers!". Meanwhile, a different fan appreciated the storytelling,

writing: "This was a fun movie to watch, the characters felt fully thought out. The story is such a simple one to tell but incredibly rich with back story about our main

character." And yet another viewer lauded the film's faithfulness to its source material, saying: "One of the best adaptations to Stephen King's works. The substance was

there and the story was well developed."