10 Endings Stephen King Actually Got Right

7. Gerald's Game

Stephen King Gerald S Game
Viking

Before the recent Mike Flanagan adaptation, Gerald's Game was not one of the more popular novels in King's repertoire, yet it is a fantastic read with a truly spine-tingling ending.

The titular Game is that Jessie is handcuffed, by her husband, to the bed in a bid to spice up their sex life. However, Gerald suffers a heart attack, dying and leaving Jessie in a... difficult position, to say the least.

The book is enthralling, holding the reader's attention as Jessie suffers from dehydration and hallucinations, building toward a gruesome third act. The book is a story of Jessie's determination and will to survive. Her escape, by slashing the flesh of her hand so badly that it peels away almost as a glove would, is both awful and fantastic, proving her resilience in the face of death.

Gerald's Game is one of King's better stories, one only helped by the Netflix film.

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"