The Gift Review

2015 in film

Aug 10

Written By Rendy Jones

Preview

R: Language

STX Entertainment, Blumhouse Productions

1 hr and 48 Minutes

Cast: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, and Joel Edgerton.

Editor’s Note: This review was originally published during my adolescence. Outdated language might be seen in these old posts. Since then, my thoughts and values have grown. This review is being presented as they were originally written, grammatical errors and typos and all. Because to do otherwise would be that same as claiming these flaws has never existed.

BACKSTORY: N/A

STORYLINE :Simon and Robyn are a young married couple whose life is going just as planned until a chance encounter with an acquaintance from Simon's high school sends their world into a harrowing tailspin. Simon doesn't recognize Gordo at first, but after a series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts prove troubling, a horrifying secret from the past is uncovered after more than 20 years. As Robyn learns the unsettling truth about what happened between Simon and Gordo, she starts to question: how well do we really know the people closest to us, and are past bygones ever really bygones?

REVIEW: Its hard to keep up with Blumhouse thrillers/horrors. Recently they've been having a very unbalanced track record. They produced an amazing film being Whiplash and then two months later produce a piece of shit being The Boy Next Door. Now with Joel Edgerton's directorial debut and fifth film he's written The Gift is the amazing Blumhouse psychological thriller that fucks with your brain through beginning to end. What makes this film so outstanding isn't just the direction or the cinematography, its the writing. What you first think as a creepy thriller that will cliche itself into being a horror, ends up being an anti bullying PSA. As the audience you are immediately invested into Simon, Robyn, and Gordo and their motives. The film does start slow, but as it progresses, the story unravels to genuinely gives you chills down your spine. With a film like this, its hard to review to avoid spoilers. The technical side of the film is amazing. The cinematography is dark, chilling, and gritty. The shots composition are cleverly framed and put into motion. Even the editing is so damn smooth.

LAST STATEMENT: Chilling, smart, and has a backhanded powerful message, Joel Edgerton's the Gift is one of this years smartest films to come out.