Parents' Guide to

Gerald's Game

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Well-made psychosexual horror film is gruesome and gory.

Movie NR 2017 103 minutes
Gerald's Game Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 7 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 7, 2022
age 17+

Beginning and end meh, but the middle is a tightly wound spring

I have been a fan of Carla Gugino since Troop Beverly Hills. She gives a strong performance in this King adaptation. A quick intro and a quick exit but what is in between is quite strong. It is creepy, it is suspenseful and it is a good use of a rogue dog. Greenwood offers a strong adversary for Gugino's character. The last ten minutes is a quick hot mess that does not necessarily work but it does not take away from the hour and ten previous which had you on a tightly wound string. I guess the game goes like Monopoly until we're tired and want it to just hurry up and end.
eklanck14
eklanck14 Adult
December 13, 2018
age 18+

Bad movie

This movie is set in the same scene almost the entire movie. There is no thrill to it, it is just boring. I could not finish the movie it had no suspense besides a dog coming in and eating a steak. It does not deserve a 90% on rotten tomatoes I would NEVER recommend this movie to anyone. It was so extremely boring we all knew she was going to obviously escape eventually. This movie had nothing going for it. I don’t usually rate movies on here but I had to for this movie because it was probably one of the worst movies I have ever seen.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The marriage of Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) and Jessie Burlingame (Carla Gugino) is strained when GERALD'S GAME opens. Hoping to rekindle their feelings, they leave for a weekend at their second home, which is beautiful, isolated, in a lush setting. Gerald has brought along some handcuffs, intent upon introducing some spice to what has been a fading sexual relationship. After only a short time in the handcuffs, feeling trapped and increasingly frightened, Jessie is finished with the game. But Gerald isn't ready to unlock the cuffs. He continues the "game" until tragic circumstances prevent him from stopping it, even if he wanted to. Jessie is trapped, alone, imprisoned on the bed, without food, water, or any means of communicating with the outside world. No one will find her. No one will be able to help. A series of mounting events and extraordinary beings put Jessie in more jeopardy -- and those real events are joined by the eerie presence of the couple's two alter egos, who appear to the terrified woman and either mock or try to support her.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (12):

Carla Gugino gives her all in a stellar performance; the production is first-rate, suspenseful, thought-provoking, and smart, but the gore and sexual threats make it tough going for the squeamish. Fans of Stephen King's book may be surprised by some of the changes to the story, but it all works as a movie. Gerald's Game is a tight thriller with a strong psychological core. Other performances, including those of Bruce Greenwood, Henry Thomas, and a very expressive dog, are first-rate as well. Still, there are moments that are hard to watch for any but horror fans. No kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the gruesome violence found in many horror movies. Many teen and young adult fans find the genre to be "fun" (e.g., Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street). Gerald's Game isn't meant to be fun. It's neither exaggerated nor filmed for humorous shock value. Do you think the movie will appeal to the typical horror fan? Why or why not?

  • Do you have a brutality tolerance level? How much gross violence is too much for you? Try to determine what exactly makes you turn away from a scene because you simply can't watch.

  • Why is it important for families to understand the impact of violence on kids?

  • Think about the art direction. How did Mike Flanagan and his team use the lighting (both exterior and interior), doors and windows, furnishings, and even the fabrics to contribute to the overall mood?

Movie Details

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