Some of the more harshest critics will say if you've read one Stephen King book, you've read them all and if you've seen one adaptation you've seen them all. Not the case at all, each one is different and each actor, director, brings something of their own to the adaptation. The same can be said for Gerald's Game. A couple attempt to kick start their marriage by heading out to a remote cabin, obviously Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) having other 'things' on his mind. Cue not rabid dog but rather feral dog who Gerald almost runs over on the road. Better for that roadkill to have gotten it first. As the dog later returns to wreak havoc and tears strips off Gerald!! Ugh, not giving too much away. But Bruce, erm, you didn't deserve that. Then again perhaps Gerald did in some ways. Though Gerald wasn't particularly evil, or morose, cynical in some respects, but not such a bad man, as man and husband's go.
Jessie (Carla Gugino) is more down to earth and some may even say, a little on the plain side and boring too, not in terms of looks but how she carries herself. But Carla is striking an din the role too, also several references to her slip. However he does comment she has a good heart when she feels for the dog, to the point of feeding him Kobe steak!! "All the way from Kobe" Gerald interjects! And the man didn't even get to eat a hearty meal! Hey Gerald you're a lawyer why skimp on the cost of the steak!! It's only 'meat.' That'll come to haunt in a plot twist of sorts. Couldn't help but think that in some ways this meat reference was directed to Jessie's predicament and her being handcuffed to the bed, only served to be treated as nothing but meat too. Objectified and object of affections, but still relevant especially with reference to Gerald's joke. personally I did think they were lucky to get 11 years of marriage.
Things hot up but Gerald needs help with his libido, correction, not his libido but close enough, and Jessie later comment about his "five inches" which had the audience in rip roaring, riotous laughs! So their kinky handcuffs went astray as poor Gerald suffers a heart attack, later we're told it was a long time coming. Considering he was a lawyer. Thus the handcuffs and erotic thoughts left on the bed with the insufferable dog causing no end of trouble! Even Cujo is alluded to, which is what I also thought!! Heck should stop all these pre-empting thoughts I get! No film would be complete without it! And as I used to remark with other shows, if you get a mention of another character or protagonist in a book, film, etc, does this mean that character is actually real!! (See my Supernatural book for further explanation if you want. NB Am not plugging here but since everyone does it, why not!!)
This gives rise to her hallucinations and willing Gerald to be alive, but alas he wasn't to be that lucky and how their marriage had problems, but they were happy after all. Even when she overheard his crude joke about what women are good for: " A lifesupport for F**ing C**nts." Which she was angry about, but she did hear it. Most likely some men are like that but she didn't think he was. Perhaps the operative word here was 'life support' cos that's what she needs, she needs to stay alive, so she can get angry and motivate herself into thinking of how to escape her plight and her cuffs!
Lots of flashbacks then and interjecting with each one who appears to her giving her clues as to how she should escape. Also she had to be one who was abused by her father on the event of a solar eclipse. The allusion being her life was eclipsed ever since!
Some touching imagery, but also some foreshadowing to, such as how her father found her attractive after she began her period, thus the sanitary towels she used at the end! No not for that!! Then the 'moonlight' man and how he came a collecting for 'Bag A Bones' another book reference. However having nothing to do with the other book. As well as the almost-Barlow like appearance from the scary monster at the side of the bed. Again another shock and awe moment for the audience. Maybe it's just me but I don't do that kinda stuff, with the gasping and the 'oohs and aahhs'. It just interferes with the enjoyment and maybe I'm desensitized to the horror aspects of it, which doesn't mean I don't get sacred but when it calls for it! If that makes sense!
Jessie explains everything in a letter at the end and how certain monsters are real, not the ghosts or demons but the living monsters that can haunt those with less than happy childhoods or lives during their adult years. A little more reference to the monsters in the closet or under the bed aspects of Cujo with Tad and Vic, once again. But as said, monsters come in all shapes and sizes and to survive means having to deal with them...!
An excellent adaptation, if a little gore infested for those green at the gills, but don't worry you won't lose your food over it or anything, and really it's not even stomach churning at all! But some of you will be shocked out of your seats, if you're that way pre-disposed! Bruce as always was superb; no other words to describe his portrayal (well there are, I'm biased anyway) but yeah he is and was an excellent choice to be cast by Stephen King himself!! As explained director Mike Flanagan at the Q&A afterwards. It was only about 20 minute so didn't get to ask any questions, but most of them were answered anyway! Such as the casting question.
Also how Mike handcuffed himself as well and didn't last 5 minutes in them, so it was kudos to Carla that she was willing to endure this and they were physically painful and grating on the skin. Henry Thomas being cast as her father in the film and how some were shocked at Elliott's (from ET) loss of innocence. But Henry wanted to play that role, having a daughter of his own, which again may shock some die hard fans. But it's all par for the actor!
Trevor Macy, the producer also explaining how that dialogue that Bruce got as exposition was straight from the book in its entirety!
The adaption took a long time as there was much of the rich writing was no character to put these words up to," in the book there were other characters Jessie conjures and they're not unknown and they wanted to stay within the couple and live with the marriage. Brought this out in the adaptation and Bruce's monologue is verbatim and he just left it like that and needed to be filmed."
Mike: "other adaptations were being considered and the changes like Jessie fighting robbers, something to remove her off the bed and they didn't want that." Trevor didn't read the book until later and not when it came out and was 'compelled' by it. "Using masochism as a producer and getting into the production."
Adapting King's work and prose Mike as a fan doesn't want to change anything or cut it out...see some choices made in other films and he gets angry he doesn't like changes, he agonizes over it cos not want to make changes making readers angry...was a fun, read book twice and underlined every bit into the movie verbatim. The epilogue more 'polarized' and fans were divided on if they liked the Joubert twist at the end.
They had to pitch to King for the rights to get anything of his. Trevor: took 6 months to make a script, "he was very supportive and he cares about his adaptations, writer, producer cast involved in everything. King suggested Bruce Greenwood in first place."
"Then we submitted first cut and he loved it." Mike has not spoken or met King, but it was great getting the tweet from him; was a fan moment for him!
"Jessie's role would either attract actresses to the part or drive them away and Carla just wanted to be a part of it. The movie would turn on whoever pulled it off and it was the performance of her career." She was a consummate advocate for the filming.
Area 65 65 mm sensor akin to David Lean filming. Such as for Occulus which was shot from beginning to end and the shots dictated everything. "The camera had to float, moving eyelines and film could've been still and Micheal and he made a shot list."
2.3:91 shot needed that shot cos needed both her hands on screen. saw it with audience and Mike said how it was great to see the audience squirm (barring me and sis!) Also how he couldn't believe the silence in the audience too!
On a question from the audience about the music for the film. Mike: they're not brothers and they're name isn't Newton, he couldn't recall the story behind this name, which they've said numerous times! They've scored everything Mike's done, from Oculus onwards.
Trevor added that their pitch was that 'there'll be less than 10 mins of score so won't get paid too much, so they didn't have to write so much.'
Their names are Taylor Stewart and Andy Grush.
I didn't know they also worked on some eps of The Mentalist, amongst their wide and varied CV.
Aside from those two late comers who were plonked in front having no disregard for the audience or those already there! They saw five minutes at the end! It's good that theatres have a policy of latecomers not being admitted cos for some it does detract from the action. Especially for those with short attention spans! Nonetheless luckily we had the entire row to ourselves!!
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