"The Gift" Review

Title: The Gift

Directed by: Joel Edgerton

Screenplay by: Joel Edgerton

Year: 2015


Upon coming across the trailer for The Gift, I had very mixed feelings. On the one hand, I thought the concept was a great idea and that this could be a great film. On the other, the trailer was very conventionally cut together and too similar to other horror movie trailers that did not pan out so well. So I did not know what to expect from this Joel Edgerton film, and what I received was a gift indeed.

Simon and Robyn, a married couple, move into a new home. While shopping for furniture, they run into someone from Simon's past: Gordo, an odd but seemingly kind man. He sends them gifts and visits their home on a regular basis. But after one of their encounters goes sour, horrible events begin to transpire and secrets from Simon and Gordo's past are brought to light.

I am happy to say that The Gift is an expertly crafted, tension-filled thriller of high class. The performances of the lead actors are all exceptional. Jason Bateman, known for his more comedic roles, completely disappears in this film. His performance as a husband trying to make his life the best it can be for both him and his wife is very good, but as we learn more about the past, we see the character changing. Bateman sells the role effectively. Rebecca Hall plays Simon's wife and she does a terrific job emoting the fear and curiosity. She is, essentially, the main character. She is directly affected by Simon and Gordo's actions and she serves as the perspective through which the audience views the film. But Joel Edgerton steals the entire movie. He could have easily overacted and made this character an absolute joke, but instead, he gives a very quiet and subdued performance. His performance is so good that you want to see more of Gordo, but at the same time, he is so awkward that you do not. That is the sign of a great performance.

The story is an original concept, which is always a nice thing to see. The movie is very slowly paced, taking its time to develop the characters and allowing the story to unfold at its own pace. Periodically, the audience is given information of the past in small increments. We slowly begin to piece together what is really going on. However, there are times when the story is too slow. There are a few moments where it feels that nothing substantial is happening, which is mostly due to a lack of Gordo in these scenes. But, for every boring moment, there is another moment of raw intensity. There are countless scenes that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Is Gordo in the house? What is in the gift box? Is Gordo really behind all of this? The movie keeps the audience on their toes.

Labeling this as a horror film might be a tad misleading. This is more of a thriller-drama with horror elements in it. There are definite scares, particularly with the ending. That ending was just flawless. Its execution, the fear it conveyed, and the emotion it brought out was all spectacular. But there are other frightening moments, such as when Gordo randomly shows up at Simon and Robyn's home or when the two come home to find that all the fish are dead or something else that transpires involving their dog. The film can be scary, but instead of relying on some supernatural monster, it depends on something that could transpire in real life, and that will always be infinitely more frightening.

The Gift illustrates that the past can haunt us, and not everything is forgotten. The movie has a great lesson, and that is that words do, in fact, have power. What you say can heavily influence someone else and the way it is demonstrated in this picture is very unique. The story takes a few twists and turns that raise the stakes and amplify the tension. It gets to the point where we begin to question whether or not Gordo is the bad guy.

Edgerton put a lot of effort into making this movie. The script is original and tightly written. His acting is perfect for his character. But it is with his direction that I find myself most fascinated. The manner in which he shoots the interiors of the house when Robyn is home alone strikes true terror. He toys with the fear of the unknown and how the brain works. When we are frightened and hear a sound, we assume the worst. He incorporates that fear into this film in a great way.

One problem I did have with the film though, is the reveal. I believe the reason behind the story's occurrence is genius. The reason all of this is happening is brilliant and a nice plot twist, but the execution of the reveal fails to add the necessary gravity. As a result, the cause feels very light and almost implausible. I had the exact same issue with Mr. Holmes earlier this year. The reveal itself works fine on paper, but the execution is not as strong as the twist deserves.

The Gift is a very intricately woven film, with a splendid cast, suspense in copious amounts, and an awesome finale. This movie showcases Edgerton's talents as a writer, as a director, and as an actor. He succeeds in all regards, and the film does as well because of it. You will have this film on the brain long after the credits have finished. It ends powerfully and will force you to ponder on both the movie and your past. An incredibly creepy feature and a thrill ride from start to end, The Gift is an inventive psychological thriller that is simultaneously difficult to watch and impossible to look away.

Grade: A-