Film Review: ‘The Gift’ is a Must Watch

Review of Joel Edgerton’s outstanding directorial debut, ‘The Gift’

A still from The Gift

Film: The Gift
Cast: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton
Dir: Joel Edgerton

Rating: **** (4 stars)

The Gift is a fantastic psychological thriller written and directed by Joel Edgerton who also acts in it. When the film starts you feel like it’s just  another thriller but the way it’s shot and directed, the film succeeds in scaring the hell out of you in many parts.

The story revolves around Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall), who have moved to Southern California after staying in Chicago, for a change and also because Simon also has a new cool job in town. While they have just started to put their house together, they bump into Gordo (Joel Edgerton) an old classmate of Simon. Things seem normal between the three but it’s far from that.

Gordo visits their house a lot more often while Simon is at work and he also gets small gifts and wine along. Robyn entertains him and shows him their new place. The two even invite him over for dinner, and that’s the first time you realize everything isn’t alright with Gordo. Simon even mentions that there was a reason he was known as ‘Gordo, the Weirdo’.

A movie still from The Gift 

Soon, Gordo turns out to be the creep that he really is spelling  big trouble for the couple, bringing on the film’s chilling bits thats sure to send shivers down your spine. The well executed and disturbing end will stay with you long after you have left the cinema hall.

All the three actors deliver a fantastic performance but it’s Joel Edgerton who steals the show. The Gift is a top notch directorial debut, which shows that Edgerton clearly has an eye for detail.

This extremely clever thriller is a must watch!