Movie Review: THE GIFT (2015)

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kWjKFQIq50″]

Psychological thrillers had their heyday in the 90’s with films like Fatal Attraction, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle and plenty of others. What was interesting was their core viewing audience were women. Typically, the films would revolve around an affair or have some sort of sexual context that would give just enough gossipy sleaze to middle America. Earlier this year, you may remember a film being released that seemed like it was somehow transported from the 90’s called The Boy Next Door, another Blumhouse joint like The Gift, starring Jennifer Lopez. If you already forgot about it, Jenny from the Block is a high school teacher who is seduced by a high school student and then the student’s obsession turns nasty. While I haven’t seen the film, this film seems to use the knowledge that people have of true life stories they have seen or heard of on the news of teachers seducing and engaging in sexual acts with their students. The film is a mentality throwback to the psycho-thrillers of the 90’s. It makes a dramatization out of seeds planted in our heads which on a psychological level can leave a bit of a stronger impression than something more fantastical. Joel Edgerton‘s The Gift uses some of that same framework but (again, I haven’t seen The Boy Next Door) in a different and probably more successful fashion.

The Gift is a film best going in blind. For that reason, I’m going to do my best to not reveal some of the secrets you will find in the film. In fact, I wouldn’t be offended if you scrolled past the following paragraphs to see the rating, the pros, the cons and our bottom line.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE…

Simon (Jason Bateman) and his wife, Robyn (Rebecca Hall), move from Chicago to purchase a Californian new house south of where Simon originally grew up to live near a new job that Simon has taken to better his career. While shopping for new furnishings, a man by the name of Gordo (Joel Edgerton) recognizes Simon as someone he went to high school with. After a few social awkward meetings with the couple and Gordo, Simon decides that he doesn’t want Gordo to come over to the house anymore and feels like the man might have feelings for Robyn.

Joel Edgerton has always been an actor that I enjoy watching. However, the first time I heard about him was actually through his brother, Nash Edgerton. Nash has directed some really great stuff in addition to being a stunt coordinator and an actor (Nash is actually in The Gift which given the fact that he looks similar to Joel, might not be a good thing given the context of the scene he is in. You almost think Gordo put on a fake beard to infiltrate Simon’s work, or at least, I did). Nash Edgerton directed the fantastic thriller, The Square, so the fact that his brother, Joel, was writing, directing and starring in something that was being advertised as a thriller, my interest was piqued.

In fact, let’s pause this review to show you Nash’s short film, Spider, just to put you in the same frame of mind I was kind of in.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbgeDnWcSnU”]

Good, right? There is also a follow-up short film called Bear that is viewable here. Once your done with that, check out The Square. So, I figured that if Joel had just an ounce of what Nash had, viewers would be in good shape. Well, I’m hear to tell you that the “plot twist” gene runs strong with the Edgerton clan.

The Gift is a film that is a unique, effective psychological drama with thriller elements. Yes, I said “drama”. The point of view of the film is Simon’s wife Robyn as she knows nothing about Simon & Gordo’s past other than the fact that they went to school together. As the film progresses, she begins to learn more about Simon’s psychological state and how he might not be the kind person she thought he was. The film is made of many twisty roads and some dead ends (a good thing because the dead ends that you’ll arrive at were on familiar roads anyway). The final 30 minutes is where the film picks up steam and really starts playing mind games with the viewer with a finale that packs the punch and the potency of some Korean cinema – one film, in particular, may come in mind after viewing the film.

Joel Edgerton not only wrote and directed this fine slice of head-fuckery but also, he plays a fractured human being that teeters the fine line of being overtly creepy and sympathetic. Also, Bateman plays it very straight and, honestly, I like him better as an actor for it. Rebecca Hall has a fragility to her that doesn’t seem weak at all. It’s these actor’s little nuances that make the film interesting. The only odd thing is this film is being advertised as a true psychological thriller with a creeper angle. It’s not that and it is more effective because of that. There are a couple of jump scares in the film and they worked effectively well. The reason? BECAUSE WE ARE INVESTED IN THE CHARACTERS! Please take note horror films. Thanks.

The Gift will keep you guessing until a gut-punch of an ending and it is well worth your time.