The Gift
young married couple's lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband's past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years.
Director:
Joel EdgertonWriter:
Joel EdgertonUser Reviews
The movie you didn't know you had to see this summer
Here's a surprise: The
Gift is a mature thriller that's more complex and classy than the
trailers suggest. I don't know what caused the marketing department to
make the film look like such a second-rate, cheap, predictable thriller
that somehow have gotten ahold of talented actors, but now we know the
truth. As Joel Edgerton's directorial debut, it's impressive,
considering the sense of craft going on behind the camera. The
cinematography is gorgeous and the pacing is that of a slow burn, but
it's never dull. The premise is also deceptively simple, turning more
intricate and involving as the film progresses.
Edgerton, who also wrote the screenplay, refuses to adhere to genre conventions, constantly subverting audience's expectations on how the story plays out. Red herrings, plot twists, shifting perspectives, and moral ambiguity ensue, but they never feel cheap. Like the best thrillers, The Gift evolves naturally and realistically. Edgerton and Rebecca Hall are great, but it is Jason Bateman who impresses. As a natural comedian actor, he plays one of his rare, serious roles to terrific effect. But I digress. You should go into this film with a clean slate, but know that it is a rare, intelligent thriller that doesn't cheat or spoonfeed its audience. And in that regard, Joel Edgerton has given us a gift, indeed.
Edgerton, who also wrote the screenplay, refuses to adhere to genre conventions, constantly subverting audience's expectations on how the story plays out. Red herrings, plot twists, shifting perspectives, and moral ambiguity ensue, but they never feel cheap. Like the best thrillers, The Gift evolves naturally and realistically. Edgerton and Rebecca Hall are great, but it is Jason Bateman who impresses. As a natural comedian actor, he plays one of his rare, serious roles to terrific effect. But I digress. You should go into this film with a clean slate, but know that it is a rare, intelligent thriller that doesn't cheat or spoonfeed its audience. And in that regard, Joel Edgerton has given us a gift, indeed.
