It's definitely worth the watch, and isn't too heavy, considering the subject matter. Kind of kicking myself now for not including a trigger warning up top for the CSA
The de-gloving scene was my favorite part of the movie, as it shows the grit and determination and Carla sold the hell out of that performance. everything that Carla Gugino is in is good! She’s such an underrated actress! Great read as I forgot about this adaptation!
Totally agree! Carla Gugino is amazing in everything.
As I'm thinking about that degloving scene, it occurs to me that it has a lot in common with the Saw movies. The person in the “trap” has to decide living is worth the suffering they're about to go through.
Superb write up sir! You write about Flannagan's work with really passion, I have to say the degloving and the dog were most memorable for me from this movie - your tidbit about the dog in the book makes me want to read this now!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Let me know if you ever read the book. I found it harder to stomach than the movie. For one thing, they aged Jessie up for the movie.
Nice piece! Flanagan is a gangster. Midnight Mass went deep and dark.
I read Gerald's Game fresh off the press in '92. I rolled my eyes at an adaptation, but my husband talked me into it. What a surprise! Handled with all the grit and suspense necessary for the story.
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease." That phrase has creeped me out for thirty plus years!
Awesome review, and I felt like a fan of you, King, and Flanagan as I was nodding along the whole time I read! I also credit secondhand bookstores for a big chunk of my King reading. I really miss those days of easy availability for a couple of bucks. Gerald's Game was such a gripping and rough read, and I was almost afraid to watch the film when it came about because I was afraid it wouldn't do it justice (as imo so many King adaptations can't) and I was unfamiliar with Mike Flanagan, who I now just adore! I loved how you dove into the imagery here, as well as the survival vs. "because they can" dynamics in the story. As a sidenote, the Moonlight Man completely freaks me out both in the book and in the film and I was so uncomfortable when Carel Struycken showed up in Doctor Sleep as well. He's played other roles I enjoyed, like Lurch, but he'll be Moonlight Man forever in my almost closed eyes!
Thanks for your kind words, Kimberly, and I agree with everything you've said. And the moonlight man freaks me out, too. The scene where she suddenly sees him in the rearview mirror is one of the few jump scares I've ever had work on me in a book.
I'm really looking forward to your thoughts on Dreamcatcher!
Really enjoyed this. You make a great case for Gerald’s Game as both an “impossible” adaptation and one of Flanagan’s smartest, with the light/dark symbolism landing especially well.
Great read. I'm not a huge Flanagan guy, yet, but this does sound like an inspired adaptation, and an impressive start. Your coverage is thorough and makes for an excellent review. Also, The Duke is a sick nickname.
This was such an amazing review. I’ve only seen this once, but it might be enough! Although that degloving scene is pretty gnarly, seeing Henry Thomas like that was so tough!
Love me some Mike Flanagan, but I never saw this. I am, after all, a total weakling 😆 Now that I know there was a de-gloving to get out of the cuffs, I think I made the right decision. But I loved your take on this. So well written — loved the symbolism stuff, too.
I love Carla Gugino. She's so camp in The Fall Of The House Of Usher, but does siren so well even in 2023.
As The King (Kyle, he of 1K+ subscribers) is now busy attending to his royal duties, may I sire thee?
I hereby anoint thee, HH Duke, Duke of Scarestack, Lord of the Literary Macabre, Keeper of Horrors Both Earned and Imagined.
May your open rates be high, your comment sections delightfully unhinged, and your newsletters haunt readers long after the tab is closed.
The title is yours. You have been found worthy.
Rise, Your Grace.
Totally agree about Gugino! So talented.
And this is amazing ❤ I will do my best to wear the title with the dignity, grace, and spookiness it demands 👻💀🎃
The Fall of the House of Usher was way better than I thought it would be. Every episode was terrific
So good. I couldn’t watch the other Flanagan series, too scary.
Agreed! It was so brutal, too. The end of the second episode was just nuts.
This is one adapation , I havent seen yet. I think it is one of those movies I have to be in the right mood for but your post has convinced me
The subject matter is so heavy and it's a rough watch (and read) at times, but worth checking out. The right mood is absolutely a must for this one.
It's definitely worth the watch, and isn't too heavy, considering the subject matter. Kind of kicking myself now for not including a trigger warning up top for the CSA
The de-gloving scene was my favorite part of the movie, as it shows the grit and determination and Carla sold the hell out of that performance. everything that Carla Gugino is in is good! She’s such an underrated actress! Great read as I forgot about this adaptation!
Totally agree! Carla Gugino is amazing in everything.
As I'm thinking about that degloving scene, it occurs to me that it has a lot in common with the Saw movies. The person in the “trap” has to decide living is worth the suffering they're about to go through.
Superb write up sir! You write about Flannagan's work with really passion, I have to say the degloving and the dog were most memorable for me from this movie - your tidbit about the dog in the book makes me want to read this now!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Let me know if you ever read the book. I found it harder to stomach than the movie. For one thing, they aged Jessie up for the movie.
Nice piece! Flanagan is a gangster. Midnight Mass went deep and dark.
I read Gerald's Game fresh off the press in '92. I rolled my eyes at an adaptation, but my husband talked me into it. What a surprise! Handled with all the grit and suspense necessary for the story.
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease." That phrase has creeped me out for thirty plus years!
Midnight Mass is literally my favorite show ever! I just did a rewatch a month or so ago. Love it!
And yes, so creepy! Blegh.
I'm getting amped up reading Spring of King. I need to do King of Summer so I can watch all the films!
That sounds awesome!
Awesome review, and I felt like a fan of you, King, and Flanagan as I was nodding along the whole time I read! I also credit secondhand bookstores for a big chunk of my King reading. I really miss those days of easy availability for a couple of bucks. Gerald's Game was such a gripping and rough read, and I was almost afraid to watch the film when it came about because I was afraid it wouldn't do it justice (as imo so many King adaptations can't) and I was unfamiliar with Mike Flanagan, who I now just adore! I loved how you dove into the imagery here, as well as the survival vs. "because they can" dynamics in the story. As a sidenote, the Moonlight Man completely freaks me out both in the book and in the film and I was so uncomfortable when Carel Struycken showed up in Doctor Sleep as well. He's played other roles I enjoyed, like Lurch, but he'll be Moonlight Man forever in my almost closed eyes!
Thanks for your kind words, Kimberly, and I agree with everything you've said. And the moonlight man freaks me out, too. The scene where she suddenly sees him in the rearview mirror is one of the few jump scares I've ever had work on me in a book.
I'm really looking forward to your thoughts on Dreamcatcher!
Yea this is great
Thank you ♥️
Really enjoyed this. You make a great case for Gerald’s Game as both an “impossible” adaptation and one of Flanagan’s smartest, with the light/dark symbolism landing especially well.
Thanks, Sean! That means a lot!
Great read. I'm not a huge Flanagan guy, yet, but this does sound like an inspired adaptation, and an impressive start. Your coverage is thorough and makes for an excellent review. Also, The Duke is a sick nickname.
Thanks, Harry! It’s definitely worth a watch. And I’ll take it! It may be the coolest thing anyone’s called me, lol.
Can I be in the Flanafan club?
This was such an amazing review. I’ve only seen this once, but it might be enough! Although that degloving scene is pretty gnarly, seeing Henry Thomas like that was so tough!
Love me some Mike Flanagan, but I never saw this. I am, after all, a total weakling 😆 Now that I know there was a de-gloving to get out of the cuffs, I think I made the right decision. But I loved your take on this. So well written — loved the symbolism stuff, too.