THE GIFT – The Review

THE GIFT is a sharp, nasty little thriller that takes a familiar stalker situation and transcends expectations. It tells a story which, in other hands, could have simply been another bunny-boiler, but Joel Edgerton, who directed it and costars, delivers some surprises, most of all by never pushing the material over the top. Ignore the misleading trailer, which makes it look cheap and predictable. THE GIFT delivers much more than you may expect.

Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall star as Simon and Robyn, a childless couple recently moved from Chicago to Los Angeles for Simon’s new high-paying gig at a digital security firm. While shopping for furniture, they bump into an awkward High School acquaintance of Simon named Gordo (Edgerton).   Simon at first fails to even recognize the friendly man, but soon recalls that he was known in the day, for reasons to be revealed, as ‘Gordo the Weirdo’.  Gordo seems harmless enough and the next day the couple discovers a bottle of expensive wine on their front steps, a house warming present from Mr. Weirdo.  Though concerned he found their address, Robyn convinces Simon they should ask Gordo for dinner to say thanks. Simon hesitantly agrees and so begins a dangerous cat and mouse game between the overly congenial stranger and the couple who have more than a few secrets of their own.

What makes THE GIFT a cut above the rest is a psychological complexity that makes it fresh and realistic. As the plot develops, the characters become more complicated and the audience’s sympathies shift. As a director, Edgerton is not above a couple of cheap jump scares, but he does an outstanding job tightening the noose, creating a toxic tension between Simon and Gordo as social pleasantries melt away to reveal contempt and shame and long-held grudges. The question of who exactly deserves comeuppance is milked to satisfaction by the screenplay, which serves up all types of public and private humiliations for the three leads. The movie is a thriller with all the usual trappings of a thriller, but the performances go for realism, the settings are slice-of-life, and even psycho Gordo seems somewhere within the realm of possibility.

Jason Bateman has the largest role and gives a strong performance, but you’re never rooting for him. Bateman has been an outstanding comedic straight man for a decade now, and has only tackled a couple of serious dramatic roles. These bring out a naturally unlikeable quality in the actor, which serves his character well here as his darker shades are exposed. Usually a reliably intelligent presence, Rebecca Hall is miscast – she’s all-victim-all-the-time here, especially in an uncomfortable late plot development that would make Bill Cosby proud. Edgerton shines as creepy Gordo, who’s off-screen for much of the film’s mid-section, giving Bateman and Hall room to develop. Pasty Gordo, with his coarse red goatee and artless wardrobe, is an oddball creep to be sure, but Edgerton wisely avoids descent into sinister caricature that would have made this story less believable. Best of all, THE GIFT builds to a satisfying and clever climax instead of simply ending with a protracted, violent confrontation. Well-crafted, intelligent, and chilling, THE GIFT is highly recommended.

4 of 5 Stars