MovieChat Forums > Gerald's Game (2017) Discussion > Ableism

Ableism

posted 20 days ago by greenvelvet (166)
8 replies | jump to latest

I know the book was written in the early 90s when ableism wasn't a thing, but it's pretty lazy writing that someone with physical disabilities = bad guy. It feels like King could have just said he had a long face (like King has himself), unusually tall, and poor posture causing his arms to hang lower than normal. No need to bring a medical condition into it.

It's disappointing they didn't change this for the movie, especially considering that they did modernise some parts (wall phone to iphone) and made several plot changes (Jessie talks to Gerald instead of Ruth and the others).

Also as terrifying that someone who looks different can be, it's even more scary when the person looks like they could blend in anywhere. I feel like this would have better fit the theme of the book with her dad and husband able to hide the bad parts of themselves around others.

[–] cattntaw (147) 16 days ago

physically disabled people can't be bad guys why because you say so? great argument 😂

whatever agenda you have, now I know I need to be very skeptical of physically disabled because this is some sketchy ass propaganda attempt

[–] greenvelvet (166) 15 days ago

Sigh. One google search and you would see that disability and villains is a common complaint:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2023/mar/14/the-disabled-villain-why-sensitivity-reading-cant-kill-off-this-ugly-trope

It’s so common that it doesn’t need citations. There’s no agenda or propaganda here.

By the way, I know it’s easy to sneer when faced with things you don’t like or that you find challenge your world view but opening your mind to the fact that you can be wrong about things will hugely improve your life. Being a contrarian doesn’t make you look smart but small minded.

[–] whynotwriteme (7720) 15 days ago

Conversations like this always remind me of the case of David Renz.

https://www.murderpedia.org/male.R/r/renz-david.htm

https://www.syracuse.com/news/2013/03/david_renzs_deformed_face_and.html

[–] greenvelvet (166) 15 days ago

One man is a child rapist so all men must be child rapists?

[–] whynotwriteme (7720) 15 days ago

Actually I was thinking more along the lines that since there are indeed disabled murderers and rapists in real life, why should it be taboo to portray them in films?

BTW, Renz's disability was a central part of the case. His defense argued that the extent of his facial deformities and his resulting social deficiencies were responsible for driving him to murder and rape.

[–] greenvelvet (166) 15 days ago

Replies like this really make worry about reading comprehension. In my first post I literally say that the disabled villains is lazy writing. In my first reply I linked an article that points out that villains are far more likely to be disabled.

You and the other poster are so scared that your viewpoint might have to change that you are unable to see what is written and instead see what you want to see. No where have I said that you can’t have disabled villains or that disabled people can’t be bad.

[–] whynotwriteme (7720) 15 days ago

So what if it is lazy writing? There are indeed disabled villains in real life, and it is silly to complain when one is shown in a movie. Maybe you should go over to a Friday the 13th board and see if the people there think the franchise would have been better if Jason was a normal-looking man who could blend in anywhere.

Sorry, but you seem to be making the assumption that this is a viewpoint I really care strongly about, and that I have some sort of committment to Hollywood portraying villains as disabled because I am an evil right-wing bigot who hates the disabled.

[–] greenvelvet (166) 15 days ago

"So what if it is lazy writing?"

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