Mike Flanagan has become something of a proven name in the horror movie genre. This is less due to his ability to create real scares, and more based on how well he can come up with a compelling story that is backed up by strong characters, inventive scenarios, and unique concepts. So the prospect of him taking on adapting a Stephen King novel was rife with potential. I'm happy to say that he mostly delivered. Flanagan has brought the book to life in stunning fashion. For what it lacks in frights it more than makes up for in compelling drama that is bolstered by a fantastic lead performance from Carla Gugino. Less focused on supernatural torment, "Gerald's Game" is all about one woman's struggle with facing her past while literally being bound in one place with nowhere to go. While our protagonist must fight to survive her current predicament, she must also struggle with who she has become and face her inner demons, as was as possibly some outer ones too. The story is gripping and while it is backed by several great performances, it is Gugino who is left to do most of the heavy lifting as far as carrying the plot goes. Something she knocks out of the park in what may very well be a career defining performance. The complexity and depth of the material here elevates it to something more than just your average fright fest. Although, when all is said and done, I can't help but feel this adaptation could have been just a little bit better had it more of the energy of it's schlockier peers. The situation itself is great. Plenty of potential there. Most of which is capitalized on. It's also good at keeping you engaged in the action while keeping you just a bit on edge because of what may happen when the sun goes down. Unfortunately, for all it's creepy foreshadowing there really isn't anything going bump in the night. The horror here comes from the overall danger of the situation, as well as from the cruelty of human nature. All things I'm cool with, but at the same time I couldn't help but wish there was something in here that would have made me jump. Gerald's Game is a deep, meaningful horror flick with an intelligent story filled with strong themes. It's an absolute joy to watch Gugino's character face the inner demons of her past while fighting to survive in the present. The ending is a little goofy and there's nothing to make the skin crawl, but this is still an overall great movie and another win this year for Stephen King fans. Mike Flanagan's adaptation of the horror-meister's story might just be his best film thus far.