A Good Marriage

R

Released Oct 3, 2014

1 hr. 43 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

32%

22 Reviews

Tomatometer

20%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

While her husband (Anthony LaPaglia) of more than 20 years is away on a business trip, a woman (Joan Allen) accidentally discovers the man's sinister secret.

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Jeff M

I am not familiar with the source material, but there is absolutely nothing in this thrill-less thriller, other than his name in the title, that would lead one to believe this came from the fertile imagination of Stephen King. If nothing else, it plays like one of those horrible Lifetime television movie events with titles like THERE'S A SERIAL KILLER IN MY BEDROOM: THE JESSICA BARTLETT STORY. It's an apathetic viewing experience that relies on too many cliches of the genre, most notably the old standard is-this-really-happening-or-is-it-just-her-imagination. And for the first time, I found myself disappointed in a Joan Allen performance. She's perfunctory and reliable as always, but it feels a little routine and, at times, inexplicably awkward. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but she doesn't seem comfortable in the role. And her transformation does not feel convincing, although I blame that more on writing than performance. I'd be curious to read King's novella to see if the original story was just as bland as this adaptation or if the filmmakers simply milked it of any inspiration it might have had. King fans will be disappointed - add this one to the list of unsuccessful treatments of his material. And let's find Allen some better material - it's been way too long since she's had a role worthy of her talent.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

Full Review

Mary M

It was suspenseful throughout. Premise was fascinating. Acting wonderful. Joan Allen was entirely believable. Really—you can't go wrong with Stephen King.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/23

Full Review

S R

Random film tried on Freevee and it was a dud. Some good things here and there, but it fell short.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/23

Full Review

David C

Very predictable, and lacking in any kind of believable emotions

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/06/23

Full Review

steve d

surprisingly straightforward but the cast help make it work.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Despite screenplay by Stephen King, whose novel this film is based on, it proves, as does much of his novels that written word can do things much better than the moving image. This film never manages to portray the wife's deeply tortured thought process as well as the book does. Although it's not a bad film, it just fails to bring any real emotion in a way it does on the printed page.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Peter Askin

Director

Joan Allen

Darcy Anderson

Anthony LaPaglia

Bob Anderson

Kristen Connolly

Petra Anderson

Stephen Lang

Holt Ramsey

Will Rogers

Vince Dorne

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Frank Scheck

Hollywood Reporter

The resulting domestic tension is rife with darkly comedic and dramatic possibilities that were better exploited on the printed page, where King was able to more fully delineate his heroine's tortured thought process.

Oct 16, 2014

Full Review

Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

A wry, old-fashioned thriller adapted by King from his short story.

Oct 7, 2014

Full Review

Noel Murray

The Dissolve

A Good Marriage comes off as curiously flat for a movie about a woman who sleeps next to a murderer every night.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 3, 2014

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

A Good Marriage feels like a padded out film version of a short story, which is what it is.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 6, 2019

Full Review

Josh Goller

Spectrum Culture

A Good Marriage opens with enough potential to lure in the viewer, only to unravel into a forgettable slog that does nothing but waste its potential.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 19, 2019

Full Review

Mark H. Harris

About.com

Veteran actors Allen, Lapaglia and Stephen Lang add a level of gravitas that sells the material, countering the matter-of-fact direction from Peter Askin that lends the air of a made-for-TV movie. But they can do only so much with a story this listless.

Rated: C

Apr 28, 2016

Full Review

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Synopsis

While her husband (Anthony LaPaglia) of more than 20 years is away on a business trip, a woman (Joan Allen) accidentally discovers the man's sinister secret.

Director: Peter Askin
Screenwriter: Stephen King
Distributor: Screen Media Films
Production Co: Reno Productions
Rating: R (Violence/Disturbing Images|Some Sexuality|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 30, 2015

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