Mike Flanagan's "unforgettable" horror is the "perfect" Netflix movie to watch this weekend

Even though it's Halloween, there's not too many spooky treats at the cinema, with romantic fantasy Wicker and psychological thriller Primetime being some of the films to hit the big screen this week.

So if you want to watch a horror at home this weekend, we think Mike Flanagan's Gerald's Game is a good place to start, with the 2017 film being widely lauded for its atmosphere and central performance.

Based on Stephen King's 1992 novel of the same name, the plot follows a married couple who venture away for a trip. But when the husband dies as the widow is handcuffed to the bed, she's thrust into a fight for survival.

Who's in Gerald's Game?

• Carla Gugino as Jessie Burlingame
• Bruce Greenwood as Gerald Burlingame
• Carel Struycken as Moonlight Man
• Henry Thomas as Tom
• Kate Siegel as Sally

What did critics and viewers say about Gerald's Game?

The horror film was acclaimed by critics and viewers alike, with Rotten Tomatoes currently reporting an impressive approval rating of 91% from 81 reviews. On IMDb, meanwhile, it has a solid rating of 6.5/10 from 145,000 logs.

"Gerald's Game is a symphony of suspense and scares, spiked with just the right amount of gruesome gore," noted The Playlist, while IndieWire reserved praise for the "phenomenal, breakneck climax".

"It's a barnstorming showcase for Gugino, so often underused, who tackles a difficult, physically restricted role with gusto," opined The Guardian, while Spooky Astronaut called it a "perfect" adaptation.

On IMDb, one user described it as "unforgettable" and a "masterpiece of a thriller", adding: "This is a remarkably intense film, managing to create hypnotic thrills and harrowing drama in such a small environment."

Another viewer echoed this sentiment as they called it "gripping", writing: "It's an engaging movie throughout. By delving into Jessie's psyche, it has you doubt her mental state and what is real and what isn't."

Where can I watch Gerald's Game?

After having its world premiere at the BFI Southbank in September 2017, the horror film was an exclusive release on Netflix later that month, and it is still available to watch on the streaming service now.

Other Mike Flanagan movies you can stream now

Flanagan isn't a stranger to King, having helmed several adaptations of the author's work. Doctor Sleep, a sequel to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, is currently on Netflix, HBO Max, NOW and Sky Cinema.

The Life of Chuck, which is based on a short story from the If It Bleeds novella, is available to rent via several services, while the first season of Carrie - which Flanagan developed - is on Prime Video.

The filmmaker has plenty of other notable work in the horror genre too, with Oculus and Ouija: Origin of Evil both being on Prime Video. His 2016 slasher Hush, meanwhile, is still on Netflix.

Gerald's Game is streaming on Netflix.

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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media.  His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.