While most of "Gerald's Game" takes place in the bedroom Jessie's trapped in, there are a few scenes that involve a change of scenery. Jessie spends her time handcuffed to the bed lost in her own mind, and some of this introspection includes flashbacks –- or hallucinations –- of her youth. By the end of the film, Jessie has realized she's been repressing traumatic memories from her childhood, namely the fact that her father molested her for years. She also comes to the realization that her mother suspected what was going on but never did anything about it.
If you're a fan of Mike Flanagan's work, you've probably realized that his wife, Kate Siegel, is featured in some capacity in almost all of his projects. "Gerald's Game" is no exception, as Siegel plays Jessies' neglectful mother in the flashback sequences and hallucinations. It's a fairly small role, but it wound up being pretty challenging for Siegel to play. Siegel happened to be nine months pregnant during the shoot, and she remembers feeling pretty nauseous while they were filming.
Nevertheless, she remained committed to the role and also committed to showing pregnancy in a realistic light. "I remember saying early on to Mike, 'Don't glam me up. I want the frizzy hair. I want to be glowing and sweating. I don't want any of this pretend-glorifying-of-motherhood B.S,'" she told Entertainment Weekly. Looking back, however, Siegel has said she does wish she was slightly more glammed up.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
