The Gift (2015)
So, when I sat down to watch The Gift, I was treated (for the first act of the film, at least) to a semi-routine stalker thriller. Honestly, it was well-directed, well-acted, and decently written. It just didn't pull me to the edge of my seat all that often.
The premise of The Gift is at least unique in a way: upon moving to a new area, a man, Simon, and his wife Robyn are approached by Gordo, one of his high school classmates, who mysteriously leaves gifts on their doorstep and shows up uninvited at their house repeatedly. The device of the gifts on the doorstep is interesting and well-executed, as we see how intrusive Gordo can be early on. However, the film remains trapped in itself for most of the first act, developing not unlike other psychological thrillers involving stalkers.
Thankfully, The Gift separates itself from the pack soon after. The film's second act really begins to develop the relationships between the characters well while also adding a lot of backstory. Robyn begins to distrust Simon's assessment of Gordo's intentions after he opines that Gordo is after Robyn. She then discovers that he has been doing some digging into Gordo's past behind her back, deepening the divide between the two. Robyn then digs on her own, finding out several details as to what Gordo refers to as "bygones" in one of his many letters to the couple. Upon discovering these secrets, she pleads with Simon to apologize to Gordo for his treatment of him. The film's third act (which I won't divulge here) brings all this to a head in one of the sickest, most twisted ways imaginable and does so beautifully.
Joel Edgerton's direction is the true star of The Gift. He knows exactly how to build suspense and bring the audience to the edge of their seats. Yes, there are several jump scares throughout the film, but unlike most thrillers today, they are genuine and work well, not simply letting the audience relax afterward. They are also well-placed, especially the one involving Simon and Robyn's dog. The Gift doesn't ever explode early either, giving the audience a real treat in its climax. Also, Edgerton's eye as a filmmaker is astounding. This is only his first film, yet I saw more maturity in many of the shots than I do in several more experienced directors' films. Several times throughout, I found myself thinking to myself, "That is a beautiful shot. Really eerie." One in particular with Jason Bateman was lit almost solely by the brakelights of his car, giving a red cast to his entire face and making for a very eerie shot.
Speaking of Jason Bateman, this guy is legit. I've always been (usually) semi-impressed with how much character he can bring to his comedic roles; however, in The Gift, he almost disappears into his role. His performance carries many scenes incredibly well and really lets the character of Simon develop into something quite interesting. Rebecca Hall as Robyn does quite well also, being a nice optimistic foil to Bateman's more pessimistic Simon. Joel Edgerton rounds out the principal cast with a suitably chilling performance as Gordo. He is straight up creepy at times, and even when his actions can seem like a genuine friend, he always has that hint of an ulterior motive.
Honestly, The Gift surprised me. I remember seeing this trailer and solely remarking about Jason Bateman doing a serious role, otherwise discarding this film. Afterwards, The Gift made me scratch my head in bewilderment, trying to figure out its climax. It truly surprised me as something far more than the generic thriller it might have started out as.
My recommendation: Buy it.
Grade: 86
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