Gerald's Game Film Analysis

“Gerald’s Game,” is an American psychological horror film directed by Mike Flanagan, and written by Jeff Howard. Based on the Stephen King’s novel of the same name, it explores how the main character fight to survive when her husband unexpectedly dies, leaving her handcuffed to their bed frame. Within the context of “Gerald’s Game,” the formal and social aspect will be examined through the use of camera movement, lighting, and the genre of the film. The paper would include a very brief investigation of the plot summary and the formal and social analysis of the film.

The formal and social aspect of the film, “Gerald’s Game,” has been examined through the three scenes that provided examples of camera movements, lighting, and explores the psychological

horrors the main character perceives. Medium shot and two shot was established in the first scene. Jessie’s eyes staring directly at the camera displays extreme close-up shot and a reaction shot. The third shot is a flashback scene showing a long shot. Zooming effect, and diegesis sounds were established throughout the three shots. Motivated lighting, soft lighting, and low-key lighting played a critical part of the mise-en-scene. The interpretation of the film revolves around the topic of horror films. Each scene has supported the genre of the film, from the psychological horror of Jessie’s memory to the stray dog tearing up Gerald’s dead remains. Though the film is a psychological horror genre, the film is an artifice of the film world, as the world of the film is self-contained. After all, it raises questions about the sexual identity of Jessie and her relationship with Gerald and her father.