The Gift (VI) (2015) User Reviews

When a Gift is Not a Gift

[RileyOnFilm · 7/10 · 26 December 2016]

The gift isn't much of a gift at all. The gift to me was when I discovered Joel Edgerton is not only Gordo, the creepy stalker in the film, but also the writer/director of the piece. Wow! He certainly does a great job. Most directors might gravitate toward a role in their film that is endearing to the audience, Gordo couldn't be any further from that sort of character. Things that go bump in the night can usually be explained away. If you were in Simon and Robyn's case, you might find out your explanations are incorrect months or years later. So what were those creepy bumps for Simon and Robyn? Edgerton's script shows they are part of a larger, much darker, horrific beyond an R rated gift. You'll be surprised at the twist.

Robyn and Simon have just moved in to a posh 60's retro home and are settling in as a married couple. They receive numerous visits from Gordo who says he knew Simon in High School. We get the feeling their relationship was more ominous in nature than it appears to Robyn, who Gordo starts to form a platonic relationship with. Through a course of events, the film becomes a typical stalker thriller but eventually sets itself apart as a very clever, well written, and telling "human nature" account of who everybody "really" is (not just Gordo).

I really liked "The Gift" because I enjoy psychology. As the tale unravels we actually see perspectives we aren't meant to see. The obvious hero is far from it and the villain, while never a hero, becomes someone we can empathize with, though never fully. I thought the cast was amazing and the story really stays with you because of their performances. Jason Bateman does a great job in this thriller whereas he usually plays comedy parts. He can do a variety of roles. It's a perfect thriller but I thought it did take too long developing the story. I think it's over 2/3 of the way through before the typical stalker thriller stuff ends and you get into the genius of the film. For that reason it lost a star with me. Watch this creepy fun movie, I recommend it.

The movie you didn't know you had to see this summer

[moviewizguy · 8/10 · 31 July 2015]

Here's a surprise: The Gift is a mature thriller that's more complex and classy than the trailers suggest. I don't know what caused the marketing department to make the film look like such a second-rate, cheap, predictable thriller that somehow had gotten ahold of talented actors, but now we know the truth. As Joel Edgerton's directorial debut, it's impressive, considering the sense of craft going on behind the camera. The cinematography is gorgeous and the pacing is that of a slow burn, but it's never dull. The premise is also deceptively simple, turning more intricate and involving as the film progresses.

Edgerton, who also wrote the screenplay, refuses to adhere to genre conventions, constantly subverting audience's expectations on how the story plays out. Red herrings, plot twists, shifting perspectives, and moral ambiguity ensue, but they never feel cheap. Like the best thrillers, The Gift evolves naturally and realistically. Edgerton and Rebecca Hall are great, but it is Jason Bateman who impresses. As a natural comedian actor, he plays one of his rare, serious roles to terrific effect. But I digress. You should go into this film with a clean slate, but know that it is a rare, intelligent thriller that doesn't cheat or spoonfeed its audience. And in that regard, Joel Edgerton has given us a gift, indeed.

Creepy behaviour!

[Majikat76 · 8/10 · 6 May 2018]

A psychological thriller that builds gradually, with an impressive ending! Exceeds my expectations, I tend to think of Jason Bateman as a comedy actor, but all characters we're enjoyed, as the plot thickens!

Tense, unsettling, and so well paced...

[Red_Identity · 8 August 2015]

Yeah, this was a lot of fun. I mean, the story reminds me of many others (most noticeably, Gone Girl and Side Effects) in that it's able to turn its story in more ways than one. As a very straight- forward thriller (the first half of the film) it works marvelously. Edgerton really has such a confident control of the pacing and the tone he wants the film to have, and when it switched direction, he's still able to keep the audience in their toes. What's most impressive is that this really is such a B-plot in many ways, but Edgerton goes further and really develops a thoughtful morality tale. Just when the film seems like it's going to go down the rabbit hole and not come back, he reveals another aspect of the story that puts it al in perspective. There are a few implausibilities (like someone else said, not sure if I can buy that she would be unaware of how he was for such a long time) but there are enough answers to such questions that are satisfactory and don't damage the film as a whole.

The three leads are also so fantastic. Edgerton is perfect, and Bateman also really surprising. Who knew the lead from Arrested Development (although in retrospect his character never really stayed in caricature mode really) had this in him? He has some really dramatic scenes that blew me away. Rebecca Hall is such a great screen presence so her I'm not surprised about at all. She's just great.

I think what's also really impressive about the film is that nothing comes out of nowhere. Every turn you sort of have an inkling, and you see all of the clues planted early. This may seem like a problem for many ("i totally saw that coming") but for storytelling, it's what works best in retrospect. The film at its core is really about the way our past can have consequences not just for us but for others, and the way it can also shape other people in ways you wouldn't expect. Simple, but effective.

well wrapped

[Alanjackd · 7/10 · 9 August 2015]

Why as a seasoned movie addict and theatre visitor am I always amazed at the way the " Blockbusters" get all the press and gossip and fantastic movies like this slip through the net. Like last years immense " The Babadook ", this directional debut by Joel Egerton is a really good thriller and has had nowhere near the media coverage it deserves. It makes me so angry that the Marvel franchise gets rammed down our throats on TV and in fast food cafes and masterpieces slip through the net. Excellently directed and very well acted,this clever little well - wrapped gift is all we need to let us know that the proper movie making process is still alive and kicking. Very few special effects and perfect use of sound( or lack of it in some cases) with 1 or 2 shocks to keep us going,it carries a clear message of our past waiting to wreck our future. I think it cleverly slows pace half way through then wakes up in the last third.Grab it while you can guys cos this will just go after a week or 2.

Smart thrills

[cardsrock · 7/10 · 17 March 2020]

Joel Edgerton's directorial debut is a solid thriller about the sins of the past. It's sleek, smart, and well-acted. The climax is well thought out and justifies the slow buildup. It's the perfect resolution to the story and makes you wonder how your past might one day come back to affect your future.

more of a moralistic drama than a jump-scare chiller

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 5 February 2021]

Australian actor Joel Edgerton wrote, produced and directed this drama with thriller elements,. Rebecca Hall and Jason Bateman star as a married couple newly moved to Los Angeles. They run into a old high school classmate of Bateman's (Edgerton) who seems desperate to restart a friendship that Bateman can't remember them having. Hall begins to suspect that something isn't right with Edgerton and that her husband isn't telling the whole truth about their past.

This has all of the trappings of one of those late-80's "yuppie nightmare" thrillers that glutted the market for about eight years, with the upscale settings and work environments of the characters getting upset by a malignant outside force, a situation that draws the worst out of the victims. Bateman is clever casting, as he's one of the best actors in his age range at portraying borderline nice-at-heart-or-really-a-jerk characters, which here keeps the audience guessing. Edgerton is normally a very physical actor, but here he's reserved and quiet. Hall is very good as the woman at the center of this odd dynamic, and she has her own past issues to deal with. I think audiences going into this expecting a rollercoaster-ride thriller will be disappointed, and while I don't want to spoil where things go, I think it's advisable to let viewers know that this is more of a moralistic drama than a jump-scare chiller.

Simon says watch this movie.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 12 October 2015]

Simon and Robyn relocate to their new house, whilst out shopping the pair bump into Gordon (Gordo) an old school friend of Simon's. The couple return home one day to find a bottle of wine Gordo had gifted them, he'd picked up their address. Gordo starts turning up at their house unannounced and forcing a friendship, and somehow putting a level of paranoia into Robyn. Simon had been school president, and Gordo had suffered somewhat at Simon's hand. Events soon spiral out of control and secrets of the past are unearthed by Robyn. Robyn soon becomes pregnant, a huge happiness for them both as her last pregnancy was sadly unsuccessful. Whilst Robyn is in Hospital recovering after giving birth, Simon returns home to find 'the gift' from Gordo waiting for him, the gift causes Simon to lose control.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this film as much as I did, the trailers did not do it justice. It's a thought provoking, powerful, deep and brilliantly acted thriller. It makes you alter your perceptions and opinions of the characters as it progresses, the one constant being Robyn, who's actually quite sweet, brilliantly portrayed by Rebecca Hall. Joel Edgerton does a grand job as Gordo, playing him consistently and very subtly, it could have been so easy for him to overplay his part, but he never does. I've always been a fan of Mr Bateman, and once again he proves he's not just about comedy, he's excellent, particularly at the very end.

The menacing elements are subtly played, and mostly implied, it adds more to the ending. It's a great film, revenge is the main reason for Gordo's appearance, but it's kept until later on in the film.

Very much worth seeing. 8/10

Gripping and thought-provoking in equal measure, 'The Gift' is a well-crafted psychological thriller that also marks a fine filmmaking debut for Joel Edgerton

[moviexclusive · 7/10 · 2 August 2015]

'The Gift' is ostensibly about an upper middle-class married couple – Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) – who are terrorised by a ex-classmate of Simon's named Gordo (Joel Edgerton) looking to settle an old score after their move from Chicago back to the former's Los Angeles' East Side neighbourhood. And yet, Edgerton, who also wrote the screenplay, is not just content for his psychological thriller to be just another B-grade exercise; instead, there are more than a few nasty surprises in store for an audience jaded by such run-of-the-mill genre fare, and it is Edgerton's emphasis on character rather than empty shlock that ultimately pays off in a slow-burn but nevertheless consistently gripping mystery.

As is typical with such narratives, Simon and Robyn start off as the picture of marital bliss who are looking to move on from an episode in the recent past. Simon is starting a new job at a high-profile digital security firm, and Robyn hopes to get back to her passion as a freelance designer – but the cracks are there, especially the relics of a miscarriage. Following a seemingly serendipitous run-at a downtown furniture store, Gordo leaves a housewarming gift at their doorstep, a generosity that Robyn feels obligated to repay by inviting him over for dinner. Thing is, the gifts keep coming, and while Robyn responds by letting him in out of politeness, Simon is slightly more wary of their overly hospitable guest. His displeasure comes to a head after Gordo makes a hasty and prolonged exit no sooner after they arrive at a surprisingly posh two-storey house upon the latter's dinner invitation.

Upon a stern warning to leave them alone, strange things start happening around the house. Robyn gets the nagging sense that Gordo is watching her in the day when she is alone at home, and even starts hallucinating that he is peeping at her in the shower. The disappearance of their family dog one day further cements Simon's suspicion that Gordo hasn't taken too kindly to his admonition. And yet throughout the ensuing unease, Gordo never does appear in person – except in Robyn's daydreams – leaving us wondering if it is all a red herring. Then a letter in Gordo's signature red envelope lands in their mailbox, with a cryptic send-off to Simon to "let bygones be bygones". Simon downplays its significance, but Robyn is convinced that Simon is hiding something.

Whereas the first act was about Gordo playing the typical psycho stalker, Edgerton reserves the second act for unravelling just who Simon is – and as you may expect, the answers are less than savoury. Peeling back the affable charm on Simon's surface, we are led to discover someone else altogether, so much so that we are forced to re-examine our sympathies for the man in the first place, and by extension, our contempt for Gordo's apparent sociopathic behaviour. Edgerton tells the story from Robyn's perspective, not only because she is as much in the dark about the man she married as us, but also for the fact that, as Simon's façade falls apart, she alone becomes the emotional core of the story and the only one we end up rooting for.

Although Robyn's neighbour and Simon's colleagues do pop up for a couple of scenes here and there, this is pretty much a story that stands on just three characters, and Edgerton brings Gordo back in the last act to extract payback from the person whose arrogance and apathy many years ago had set his life on an irreversible downward spiral. There is a sharp lesson here on lies, misdirections and their consequences, and instead of settling for a comfortable ending, Edgerton opts for something much more unnerving that keeps you guessing just what Gordo's motive is all this while. At no point does he settle for conventional thrills, so those expecting a mano- a-mano between Simon and Gordo are bound to be disappointed.

Yet those looking for a fine actors' showcase will be pleasantly surprised, for Edgerton gives plenty of room for each one of his actors to shine – including, we may add, himself. Bateman subverts his Everyman likability as he transforms from a nice guy to a sinister bully that has no qualms ruining other people's lives, and the actor better known for his comedic roles turns in a fine dramatic performance with heft and gravitas. Hall is his perfect complement, playing the part of the kind and vulnerable wife with watchful intelligence and quiet empathy. Edgerton is in great form himself as the creepy loner sociopath, who earns our disgust and pity in equal measure as we discover how much of a sad sack he is and what led him there in the first place.

To use its very own metaphor, 'The Gift' is like a present within a present whose pleasure lies not just in finding out what it truly is but also in the process of unveiling it layer after layer. That may come off as a drag for less patient audiences or those looking for late-night cable movie thrills, but those willing to accept a slow- burn psychological thriller that unfolds at its own measured pace will find much to like about this well-crafted and well-acted package. It is as assured and auspicious a debut for a first-time filmmaker as any, and Edgerton proves to be both smart and savvy as actor-writer- director in getting the best out of his actors as much as getting under his audience's skin.

Jason

[racheyb-12979 · 8/10 · 6 September 2020]

It's good to see Jason Bateman not be the perfect gentleman in a film for once

Good script, Mr. Edgerton. Bravo!

[Coventry · 7/10 · 8 November 2020]

"Oh joy, another privacy-invasion thriller". That was my first spontaneous thought when "The Gift" aired on television. I don't necessarily dislike the family-stalker concept, and it always remains somewhat unsettling and identifiable (because we all know someone we don't like but who doesn't get the subtle hints), but I've seen too many of these already and they are all quite predictable.

And that's exactly how "The Gift" starts out, too. Clichéd and derivative with sequences you have seen plenty of times before. You basically just keep watching for the performances. I've liked Jason Bateman since the very first minute of "Arrested Development", and he's probably the most suitable actor in contemporary Hollywood to depict a regular guy. Rebecca Hall's role, as the docile wife Robyn, is rather bland, but she's a good actress and makes the most of it. Writer/director Joel Edgerton also cast himself as the obtrusive and self-declared "friend of the family" who comes with undesired gifts and unwanted household help. Edgerton, as well, hits the exact right tone, since he's uncanny but not exaggeratedly psychotic.

But then something highly unusual and rarely before seen happens. The tables turn entirely. I'm not just talking about an unexpected plot twist, but a complete and fundamental change of how the viewer perceives the two lead characters. And, moreover, Edgerton's script gets away with it! Obviously, I can't (and do not want to) reveal too much about the plot's complete U-turn, but I personally found it dared, realistic, progressive and - oh yes - even a bit confronting. It's brutally honest, and it makes the film result in a sort of anti-climax, but nevertheless a very strong and thought-provoking one. The moral of the film? I guess it can most effectively be summarized with the great lyrics of the almighty Billy Joel's song "Honesty".

Honesty is such a lonely word Everyone is so untrue Honesty is hardly ever heard And mostly what I need from you

"See, you're done with the past, but the past is not done with you."

[UniqueParticle · 10/10 · 16 December 2019]

A great eerie drama/suspense glorious canvas debut for Joel Edgerton! Saw in the theater originally and now own on iTunes happily anytime I watch it I love The Gift. Beautifully acted, immersive story, I feel empathetic for many of the characters and appreciate the dialogue! To me The Gift is a well done art piece that everyone should see and appreciate.

The Gift that keeps on ... and on and on

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 11 November 2016]

Obviously some formulas (or sayings) are familiar to some, but there is always some twist you can give them to make them feel a bit fresh. In this case add some really good actors into the mix and let them do their thing. Even if you kind of know where this is going (unless this is the first thriller of its kind you're about to watch and/or haven't seen the trailer yet), this can still be engaging, entertaining and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Having said all that, because it's not the freshest of ideas and not the most original concept, this may disqualify it from the start for some. Don't force yourself to watch it, if you don't think you'll like it anyway. Otherwise give it a chance and stay for the ride til the end :o)

Ratings tricked me.

[oj_remme · 4/10 · 13 July 2021]

This movie is ok, not a 7. This is more like a psychologial drama, nothing special about the story, and you quickly understand the plot.

Dont you ever think you are going to watch a movie worth 7 in rating, I was so dissapointed. First 30 min is ok, this movie is also damn long.

Compelling thriller for end of summer.

[JohnDeSando · 6 August 2015]

Billed as a mystery and a thriller, Joel Edgerton's The Gift is indeed both of those and more. The sub genre might be "home invasion" of a figurative and a real kind, reminiscent of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. Equally so it's a home horror film, for some of the traditional tropes of that genre are in place (e.g., missing dog, running faucet) waiting around the corner of any room so to speak.

Super security salesman Simon (Jason Bateman) is happily married to interior designer Robyn (Rebecca Hall). Their new LA home is wall to wall windows, all the better for bad forces to look in and to ironically comment on the lack of transparency inside the home as well as a security expert's vulnerability. Then Simon's old high school friend, weirdo Gordo (Joel Edgerton), visits with gifts and memories of a troubled past.

Their home is indeed invaded, not just by nerdy, strange Gordo, who has a bad habit of showing up at odd times and gaining access at even odder ones, but by the past, which is creeping up on the couple despite Simon's will to leave it all behind and Gordo's to "let bygones be bygones." The film bears its tensions well, distributing its exposition of the past in the present slowly.

The Gift doesn't just give the present a chance to come to terms with the past; it also comments on privacy, security, and bullying while serving up a fine stew of ironies and suspense. As for bullying, not the first time in a thriller, it plays out from high school days to adult days in a surprisingly subtle way, forcing us over the long haul of the film's 108 minutes to see it lurking like a clichéd ghost or murderer.

Marriage is also a subject in this taut film, namely how much do we really know about our partners or anyone close to us? This film could make anyone a skeptic about the goodness of your fellow travelers. Speaking of which, Gordo is the outsider, whom writer Flannery O'Connor liked to write about because "he changes things." Gordo is an agent of change, an avenging angel of the past and a messenger for the future.

Smart thriller for late summer.

Good People Deserve Good Things

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 24 April 2016]

When Simon Callum (Jason Bateman) moves with his wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall) from Chicago to an astonishing house in California to work in a new job, they need to go shopping in a store. Out of the blue, a man named Gordon "Gordo" Moseley (Joel Edgerton) stumbles upon Simon and tells that he was a former high school classmate. Gordo overhears their address and brings gifts for the couple, making Simon uncomfortable. Then he invites the couple to have dinner with him and they learn that Gordo lives in a mansion. He receives a phone call and leaves the couple alone at his home and Simon decides to snoop around and mock him. When Gordo returns, Simon says that he should stay away from Robyn and him. There are incidents at Simon's home and the family's dog disappears and Simon blames Gordo. Simon drives to his house and he finds that Gordo does not live there. However the dog returns and the couple receive a letter of apology from Gordo telling to let bygones be bygones. Robyn is curious about the meaning but she gets pregnant. When Robyn discovers that her husband bullied Gordo in high school, she decides to research their past, discovering dreadful secrets from Simon's past. There are many problems with Simon and when the baby is born, he receives a mysterious gift from Gordo. What might be the gift?

"The Gift" is a different thriller where the bad guy is not who the viewer initially imagine. There is tension along the whole story and the conclusion is open. With the resource of DNA, Simon may come up to conclusions about the paternity of his son. But the point is that Gordo and Robyn has always had a civilized relationship and he tells her that good people deserve good things. Therefore, he probably has not raped and harmed her. But this is just an opinion. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Presente" ("The Gift")

Good Thriller

[billcr12 · 7/10 · 25 October 2015]

Writer-director Joel Edgerton casts himself as Gordy, a strange and mysterious guy who suddenly becomes an unwelcome friend of a happy and ambitious, upwardly mobile couple, Simon, played perfectly by Jason Bateman, and Rebecca Hall as his devoted but high strung wife. Gordy shows up repeatedly at the couples home with gifts and boring but unsettling conversations. It turns out that Gordy and Simon knew each other at the same school as kids. Something bad happened which changed Gordy's life forever. Simon, however, moved on, and the last third of the film explains it all. A good Alfred Hitchcock type ending makes The Gift well worth watching.

Messes with your mind.

[OllieSuave-007 · 7/10 · 22 November 2015]

This is a pretty intriguing thriller where a young married couple's lives are interfered by an awkward high school acquaintance of the husband's, who leaves gifts to the doorstop multiple times. After he is shunned by the couple, he gradually taunts the husband and unleashes a secret about him that threatens their marriage.

The plot is pretty fast-paced from start to finish, as the film grabs your attention almost immediately - from the appearance of awkward Gordo (Joel Edgerton) to the mind games he plays with Simon (Jason Bateman), with Simon's wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall) caught in the middle of it all.

The acting, though, was a little off as I thought some of the emotions were campy and the American accents by the Australian actors were forced. The acting also didn't flow very well and the chemistry between the character leads were pretty artificial and the character development was weak.

Overall, though, it's not too bad of a thriller. It does get your mind think and does surprise you in several instances.

Grade B-

great creepiness

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 2 April 2016]

Simon Callum (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) are married with a new house. They've moved from Chicago back to his home town. He has a new high-powered job. One day, they run into Simon's high school classmate Gordo Moseley (Joel Edgerton). Gordo starts insinuating into their lives making Simon very uncomfortable and leading to a secret from the past.

This has great creepiness right from the start. In the beginning, it seems to be coming from Edgerton and the desolated nature of the film. Then it morphs and spreads beautifully. Edgerton has some great weird vibes. Jason Bateman has this douche side to his roles sometimes. Surprisingly, he brings physicality and is believable in his strength over Edgerton. This is a terrific twist on a story that could have easily been little more than a Lifetime movie.

High School Reckoning

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 9 August 2015]

Greetings again from the darkness. Joel Edgerton has become one of the more interesting actors working today. His projects range from indies like Warrior and Animal Kingdom to award winners like Zero Dark Thirty and big budget releases like The Great Gatsby. He has written screenplays, and now comes his feature length directorial debut … and an impressive debut it is.

Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) are seeking a fresh start as they relocate to Los Angeles from Chicago. A new house and new job are an attempt to put an unfortunate situation regarding an unborn child behind them. Things get off to a great start for them as they buy a beautiful house, and Simon is put up for a promotion. An encounter with Gordo (played by Edgerton) leads to some awkward social interactions and some downright creepy stalking.

The film will work best the less you know about it. The psychological thriller aspects never devolve into the slashfest we have come to expect. Instead the film blurs the lines between good guys and bad guys. In fact, it brings into debate what makes a good person … it even states "you may be through with the past, but the past isn't through with you". Do our past misdeeds ever totally fade? What about high school bullies … do they mature? Can the proverbial zebra change its stripes? All of these questions and themes are touched.

While you may struggle to identify the protagonist and antagonist, the performances of both Edgerton and Bateman are fun to watch. And it's Ms. Hall who is the grounding force who initially trusts both men, before questioning everything. There is also a very nice, understated performance from Allison Tolman as an understanding neighbor. Ms. Tolman was terrific in the first year of the "Fargo" series.

Don't allow anyone to tell you much about this before you see it … just know that it will remind you of the importance of the Golden Rule. Treat others how you would like to be treated … or know that bygones are never bygones.

It doesn't end when the credits roll ...

[Pat100 · 9/10 · 13 September 2020]

... because the characters will live on in your mind as you imagine the consequences of that ending. It's a great, dark, psychological thriller. Well written and well acted. It builds tension very slowly but steadily as it knocks down your theories as to just what is going on. I gave it an extra star for it's lack of plot-holes.

A Solid Thriller

[pc95 · 7/10 · 28 November 2015]

(spoilers) Directed and written competently by Aussie actor Joel Edgerton, "The Gift" is an extreme psychological thriller that smartly doesn't bow to violence or blood. It is one of the better movies of 2015. Jason Bateman is cast oddly in a role away from his usual comedy and does a good job as the lead character. There's a strange mystery to unravel, and Edgerton with his film making team are up to the task. Edgy music and strange camera views bolster the foreboding story. While not wholly original in its premises, it's execution is stellar. Rebecca Hall leads the acting, Edgerton plays an odd-ball sufficiently. Edgerton has written a few other films, but this looks to be his directorial debut, and he did very well. 7/10 Recommended

A taut thriller that never becomes too theatrical for its own good

[StevePulaski · 9/10 · 7 August 2015]

The only more underserved genre for moviegoers besides serious adult comedies/dramas or immersing fantasies are the classic thriller. The last truly marvelous, slick thriller that graced multiplexes nationwide was "Prisoners," an unnerving mystery revolving around the kidnapping of two young girls, with one father going to desperate lengths to find them. Since then, marginally passable films like "No Good Deed" have stumbled into theaters but never left the kind of imprint on audiences that has them genuinely consumed with fear and uncertainty thanks to the slickness of a film.

Joel Edgerton's directorial debut "The Gift" is the first thriller that will leave an imprint on its viewers in a long time for more reasons than its rich cinematography and expertly paced narrative. It's the kind of film that gets one to look introspectively at the wrongs they've committed, in this case, in school, where perhaps a rumor you helped spread, or even started, went on to scar the victim for life. Perhaps if you helped spread said rumor, you've moved on, but what if the person you hurt hasn't forgotten the pain and torment your little white lie caused?

"The Gift" examines the idea of an unburied hatchet by focusing on the young married couple of Simon and Robyn (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall). They've just moved into a beautiful, spacious home, with Simon finding tremendous success with the company he works for and Robyn coming to terms with her anxiety and her addiction to prescription medication. Hoping to start life a new, they are thrown for a loop when they meet a man named Gordon (nicknamed "Gordo," played by Edgerton) at a home-appliance store. Gordo is an old classmate of Simon, who barely recognizes him, yet still, upon even a brief conversation, recalls he's still four tires short of a car.

Gordo repeatedly makes kind, yet invasive gestures towards Simon and Robyn, delivering wine, bringing fishes to fill their small pond out front, and stopping by while Robyn is home alone to keep her company. While Robyn sees a sensitive, somewhat lost soul in Gordo, Simon sees nothing but a creep - a persistent creep that has something to prove or uncover about him that Simon doesn't want revealed. Eventually, when Gordo's actions turn particularly personal and an apology on his part is warranted, Simon and Robyn receive a letter asking for "bygones to be bygones" for something that occurred in the past, to which only Robyn is left clueless.

The performances here are unanimously strong, particularly from Bateman, who gives one of his only very serious roles to date here. Bateman even delivers a powerful monologue before his costar, Hall, who also does some good work as a troubled woman simply wanting peace of mind, concerning the "winners and losers" of America and how people are only held back by personal insecurities and events of the past because they choose to be. His delivery and conviction here is very strong, as he deadlocks his eyes into Hall and digs into her, himself, and everything that occurred in the past in one great scene.

Edgerton, however, has the real challenging role - playing a guy who can look sweet and nimble, almost neighborly, but also a bit off and maybe even a little unstable. Edgerton's blank facial expressions find ways to be amiable, despite his behavior being increasingly troubling, almost too kind, and the character he creates for himself is one you struggle to find exactly what's bad about him when "too nice" doesn't seem to cut it.

Yet Edgerton's craft here is something to really marvel at. Serving as the writer, director, and co-producer, "The Gift" is essentially his playground and, in turn, he creates a thrilling funhouse of Hitchcockian principles and truly absorbing fear. Drenched in dingy, saturated cinematography, casting a moody light on nearly every scene, "The Gift"'s atmosphere (thanks to cinematographer Eduard Grau) is a richly detailed one. The eeriness is very even and understated, and the fright aspect sneaks up on you like the potentially deeper meaning of a kind neighbor's gesture. This is a beautiful film in terms of its look and feel, constantly feeling like its toying with your emotions.

Finally, there's the narrative structure, which is very unlike Hollywood. Unlike more conventional thrillers, like "No Good Deed," "The Gift" doesn't really have that incredulous, explosive moment, where everything you thought wouldn't happen does and the plausibility gets sacrificed for theatrics. Sure, there are some great twists, including one that goes further than I ever expected this film to go, but never is there that one moment where every ostensibly implausible thing occurs that effectively derails the entire project in terms of tone and pacing. "The Gift" remains consistent in creating a feeling of dread, even when the tables turn and the protagonist and antagonist lines are blurred.

At the end of the day, however, Edgerton is the real star here. Proving himself a competent do-all man and not just a gimmicky actor-turned-director, he molds "The Gift" to his liking and asserts himself not only as a strong lover of thrillers and Hitchcockian principles but an actor who can also say, "sit back and watch" when he goes to do something and actually do it correctly.

I would not call this film a gift, but still a decent watch

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 8 September 2016]

2015 was really an amazing year for actor Joel Edgerton, because he not only received lots of praise for his performance in the Johnny Depp crime film "Black Mass", but also wrote, directed and starred in "The Gift", which was his first full feature film as the man in charge behind the camera. And judging from what I saw here, I'd really love to see more films directed by the man in the future. Of course, a very personal advantage for me with this 105-minute film is that I quite like the 3 main actors here, namely Jason Bateman, the stunning Rebecca Hall and of course Edgerton himself. The only other cast member I was familiar with here is Wendell Pierce from "The Wire", even if he, just like everybody else, really does not have a lot of screen time at all. It is all about the lead trio and I disagree with some awards bodies here who categorize Edgerton as a supporting player. He may not be as much of a lead as the other two, but he is absolutely vital to the whole story.

This is the story of a man who was a school mate of another man and enters the other man's life after 20 years and punishes him for what he did to him back then. But does he really? For a large part of the film, it is not really clear what Edgerton's exact role and motivation is. Is he just a harmless weirdo or a dangerous threat? It is all about the video we see and if he does not do what Bateman's character thinks then you could even make an argument for Bateman's character being the real villain in here. The two male protagonists are both somehow perpetrator and victim at the same time and everybody who had struggles with bullying and being accepted in his life may have sympathies with Edgerton's character here. I personally think he nails the character and so do his two co-leads. The only reason why I do not give this one an even higher rating is the script which lacked a bit for me on some occasions and I also feel it may have been a better, more essential watch without some of the scenes and at 95 minutes max. Then again, maybe Edgerton would have cut the best scenes and it would have hurt the film even more. It is pretty fine the way it is and even if I criticized the film a bit, I must still say these over 100 minutes flew by and this should not be taken for granted. I also liked that he did nothing to Hall's character at the hospital as these two always seemed to have a respectable relationship, even if she may have been creeped out by him, even if he may have done something to her earlier. We will never find out. But in terms of the story, it better fits if he didn't, even if it was never his intention to hurt her, only to hurt Bateman's character. As a whole, I certainly recommend this film to people who love tense psychological thrillers as, to that regard, you will not find many superior films from 2015. Go see it!

Middling psycho thriller

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 31 July 2017]

THE GIFT is an all-too-familiar psycho thriller, a labour of love for actor Joel Edgerton who wrote and directed the piece as well as playing the psycho, whose motivations are better-written than usual for the genre. Unfortunately the film itself is a somewhat laidback production, one which lacks the tension that marks the best of the genre. The storyline feels familiar and too slow, and you never really invest in the lives of the main characters; Jason Bateman is perhaps too good at playing his jerk of a character, although British actress Rebecca Hall is very convincing for her part. The film has some decent twists and surprises at times, but the ending peters out to a real anticlimax that does nothing but make the viewer feel let down.