Written by: Kevin Berge
It's like if Fifty Shades of Gray was good and interesting and had a compelling... okay, maybe they're not that alike. (Image Courtesy of: slashfilm.com)
Quick Take: Gerald's Game uses a simple frightening premise to tell a complicated tale of survival, abuse, and self-realization. While not immensely memorable, the film is dominated by an incredible performance from Carla Gugino and a viciously focused story that makes it compelling.
***This review is for the recently released Gerald's Game and is not written with the expectation the reader has seen the movie. There will be no spoilers beyond the set-up though the reader may want to not even know the starting point for this tale to fully experience its effect. Read ahead at your own risk.***
The term "torture porn" has a fairly negative stereotype and not just because it includes a term often seen as a moral low ground. The focus of such movies is the full embrace of audience desire for gore and violence. It allows them to inhabit characters who must suffer to succeed or just survive.
Gerald's Game may not be purely focused on the torture aspect of its scenario, but it certainly can lean on it at times. This is a brutal movie to watch in its most intense moments that also mixes dramatic flair and genuine scares as it shifts wildly in a hazy survival tale.
The movie follows Jessie Burlingame (Carla Gugino) who is taking a weekend away with her husband Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) to reignite their strained marriage. Gerald uses bondage in a way that Jessie immediately dislikes only for him to die of a heart attack with Jessie still handcuffed to the bed.
Thus begins a sudden survival tale with Jessie attempting to escape her bondage or find help as she is slowly racked with pain, dehydration, and exhaustion. The movie heavily plays on Jessie's fragile state of mind as her mind drifts between what is real, what she imagines, and what she remembers.
The concept is clearly horrifying, but the movie does not always clearly play to the horror. It could easily be classified as thriller as well though there are a few moments that were truly unnerving particularly when the room is lightened by moonlight.
This story also put a heavy burden on Carla Gugino (Spy Kids) who has not always had the opportunity to show her range. This film works because you fully believe her in this situation, and it is hard to face her suffering. She must carry this movie for the most part and is fantastic.
The term "torture porn" has a fairly negative stereotype and not just because it includes a term often seen as a moral low ground. The focus of such movies is the full embrace of audience desire for gore and violence. It allows them to inhabit characters who must suffer to succeed or just survive.
Gerald's Game may not be purely focused on the torture aspect of its scenario, but it certainly can lean on it at times. This is a brutal movie to watch in its most intense moments that also mixes dramatic flair and genuine scares as it shifts wildly in a hazy survival tale.
The movie follows Jessie Burlingame (Carla Gugino) who is taking a weekend away with her husband Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) to reignite their strained marriage. Gerald uses bondage in a way that Jessie immediately dislikes only for him to die of a heart attack with Jessie still handcuffed to the bed.
Thus begins a sudden survival tale with Jessie attempting to escape her bondage or find help as she is slowly racked with pain, dehydration, and exhaustion. The movie heavily plays on Jessie's fragile state of mind as her mind drifts between what is real, what she imagines, and what she remembers.
The concept is clearly horrifying, but the movie does not always clearly play to the horror. It could easily be classified as thriller as well though there are a few moments that were truly unnerving particularly when the room is lightened by moonlight.
This story also put a heavy burden on Carla Gugino (Spy Kids) who has not always had the opportunity to show her range. This film works because you fully believe her in this situation, and it is hard to face her suffering. She must carry this movie for the most part and is fantastic.
Aw, ain't he the cutest dog, eating his human flesh? (Image Courtesy of: wheresthejump.com)
Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek) has a more unique and ambiguous role to play in the film, and he is also strong throughout. The shifts in situation that he ably sells make for some of the most direct drama and thrills with him at times coming off as the villain of the story which is a generalization of the situation.
In the moment, this film is enrapturing, every moment feeling closer to death than the last. Nothing is certain, and dread is a driving force. However, once the movie is over, it is not quite as lasting as would be expected. I found myself quickly forgetting details of the story.
The film juggles so many tones and focus points in an otherwise simple survival tale that many aspects end up feeling like excess. In fact, the epilogue of the film in particular is completely unnecessary, trying to explain what could easily have been left unexplained.
Still, the empowerment the movie ultimately gives to its lead even as she makes no progress at all is affecting. She works through issues she had hidden behind, and hints throughout the tale come back to hold greater significance particularly to the drama.
This is an adaptation of a Stephen King novel, but King's influence is not as easily felt here as in other King works. Where it benefits from King's touch is its genuine character development and focus. Frequent horror writing collaborators Mike Flannagan (Hush) and Jeff Howard (Oculus) do well with the material. I cannot say anything for the actual quality of the original versus the adaptation though having not read it.
Flannagan directs the movie, and his eye of visual horror is on full display. He honestly has little to do beyond bring out the best from Gugino and keep the focus on her, but there are several moments he sells better than most others would have been able.
I would not sit down and watch this multiple times, but I can appreciate the way it shapes and moves its tale. Gugino alone is worth watching the film as she gives what may just be a career-defining performance. It is almost a shame that it may go unnoticed thanks to its label of Netflix Original movie.
In the moment, this film is enrapturing, every moment feeling closer to death than the last. Nothing is certain, and dread is a driving force. However, once the movie is over, it is not quite as lasting as would be expected. I found myself quickly forgetting details of the story.
The film juggles so many tones and focus points in an otherwise simple survival tale that many aspects end up feeling like excess. In fact, the epilogue of the film in particular is completely unnecessary, trying to explain what could easily have been left unexplained.
Still, the empowerment the movie ultimately gives to its lead even as she makes no progress at all is affecting. She works through issues she had hidden behind, and hints throughout the tale come back to hold greater significance particularly to the drama.
This is an adaptation of a Stephen King novel, but King's influence is not as easily felt here as in other King works. Where it benefits from King's touch is its genuine character development and focus. Frequent horror writing collaborators Mike Flannagan (Hush) and Jeff Howard (Oculus) do well with the material. I cannot say anything for the actual quality of the original versus the adaptation though having not read it.
Flannagan directs the movie, and his eye of visual horror is on full display. He honestly has little to do beyond bring out the best from Gugino and keep the focus on her, but there are several moments he sells better than most others would have been able.
I would not sit down and watch this multiple times, but I can appreciate the way it shapes and moves its tale. Gugino alone is worth watching the film as she gives what may just be a career-defining performance. It is almost a shame that it may go unnoticed thanks to its label of Netflix Original movie.
