Stephen King's a Good Marriage

This movie was not garbage but, it is probably worth skipping or waiting for Netflix. You know when someone tells you a story about something crazy that happened to them and they hit the high points to get to the point and, in the end it doesn't sound that exciting at all? Sure, you nod along because you see how that could be hard or they should be upset but you feel you missed something along the way. This movie hit the high points. The emotion didn't transfer. The story makes sense. The acting is decent and the story plays out the way the trailer leads you to believe it would. There are a few moments of confusion when Darcy (Joan Allen) starts to imagine what would happen if this secret were exposed but, in the end you figure what was and what wasn't and, just generally leave with a feeling of, okay well, it is what it is.

To me this movie just kind of existed. It wasn't terrible by any means but I kept waiting for some twist or shock (other than the obvious) and one never came. The acting was good, the dialogue was fine, but a lack of suspense is what kept me from giving this movie a higher rating. It's still worth a watch though.

If you're not looking for cheap thrills and gore, but for low key, understated terror, this is a very good film, with a fantastic couple of leads. LaPaglia is terrifying in his everyday life dull character of the boring accountant and obsessive husband. Allen is also magnificent in her calm, subdued development as a character. I think the low scores are from people expecting a roller coaster unrealistic scary movie with lots of blood and screams. Nothing like this here, rather the little music of human perversity sounding like a distant radio. I love the ending, the power of resilience of so many women.

I was disappointed to read that the screenplay for this was actually written by Stephen King himself. I was entirely ready to chastise whoever had adapted his novella because, ironically, it felt nothing like a King movie whatsoever. Compared to another 2014 King adaption from the same collection of short stories 'Big Driver', which had King's signatures written all over it, this just came across flat, uninspired and lazy. The theme of both of those films is 'Girl Power' but only one truly encapsulated it for me and it certainly wasn't this one.

The main problem that comes to mind over this film is just how dull it is. The casting choices are about as uninspired as you'll ever get, the script just drags on and on and there are enough "it's all a dream" moments for a decades worth of movies let alone one. The character of Bob would have to be the most boring serial killer I've ever seen in a movie. There was absolutely no edge to the character and even the stalking scenes just don't feel the least bit threatening. All of this does unfortunately come back to the script written by King. The man can write a fine book but maybe he should leave the screenplays alone for the time being.

I have learned to not go by the reviews of naysayers solely. Weigh the reviews and you can usually tell within the first half hour which way it's going to go. That's what happened and this made for such a good movie. Plot twist was amazing and definitely a Stephen King plot. Enjoyed it. It's not average by a longshot.