X
- 2015
- R
- STX Entertainment
- 1 h 48 m
- 2015
- R
- STX Entertainment
- 1 h 48 m
Summary Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) 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 (Joel Edgerton) at first, but after a seemingly coincidental series of encounters a...
- 2015
- R
- STX Entertainment
- 1 h 48 m
- 2015
- R
- STX Entertainment
- 1 h 48 m
The Gift
77
8.3
Where to Watch
Summary Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) 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 (Joel Edgerton) at first, but after a seemingly coincidental series of encounters a...
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 31 Critic Reviews
77
94% Positive
29 Reviews
29 Reviews
6% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 31 Critic Reviews
77
94% Positive
29 Reviews
29 Reviews
6% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
The real joy of The Gift is getting to that twisted goodness, because more than anything, Edgerton’s script and direction demonstrate a keen understanding of tension and what puts an audience on edge.
Nothing here feels cheap or hasty, which is why the horror, when it comes, is all the more chilling and grim. Slick, sharp and legitimately terrifying, The Gift is a truly brilliant thriller — and, one hopes, the first of many features from Edgerton to come.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 567 User Ratings
8.3
86% Positive
490 Ratings
490 Ratings
11% Mixed
60 Ratings
60 Ratings
3% Negative
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 567 User Ratings
8.3
86% Positive
490 Ratings
490 Ratings
11% Mixed
60 Ratings
60 Ratings
3% Negative
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
Edgertons script is a stand alone one and doesn't rely on anything else to beef it up. The story is just strong enough to keep you interested and watching and avoids the contrived shock tactics that so many thrillers rely on. Edgerton wrote, directed and starred (Gordo) in The Gift and was also responsible for lighting, sound, editing, casting, costumes, sets, stunts and special effects, talk about talentless. Edgerton is to be commended. The characters are likeable enough and I cared about them enough to keep watching. Bateman and Hall are good together. It's an unusual one for Bateman but he was very good. The Gift has no guns, shootings, murders, massacres, knives, stabbings or decapitations being passed off as entertainment nor does it have a string of profanities deemed dialogue. As a package the film is ground breaking. All films need more sex and nudity, all the natural stuff that too many people are uncomfortable with and the Gift is no exception but you can't have it all. A thoroughly enjoyable film.
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The Gift is written and directed by Joel Edgerton. It stars Joel Edgerton, once again, Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall.
The Gift surrounds a married couple(Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall) as they transition into a new job, new house, new neighbors, new friends, basically a new life. As they shop for furniture Simon(Jason Bateman) encounters an old acquaintance from High school, Gordon or Gordo(Joel Edgerton), with a creepy demeanor and an obvious grudge.
The Gift is ****. I can't call it anything it isn't. I went into this movie with medium expectations and left with a newfound respect and awe for one person. This person is Joel Edgerton. As a director, he can't do wrong. The shots were inspired and eerie. He cut at just the right times to ensure the audience is terrified but not disgusted. As a writer, he can't do wrong. This is honestly one of the best scripts of the year and I hope it gets an Oscar nomination. It was so well written. The major player in both the direction and the writing is that no serious violence was portrayed in any scene in this movie but yet it manages to crawl under your skin and linger long after the movie's over. This is partly thanks to the excellent cinematography by Eduard Grau. Finally as an actor, CAN'T DO WRONG! He was creepy as hell but yet you some how want to root for him. He plays the role magically and was by far the best part of this movie.
Jason Bateman, oh how woefully I doubted you. At first I didn't think he could pull it off. But he did. He was perfect as well. he was sly and slimy as well as awkwardly funny and relatable ( before everything goes down). Rebecca Hall in many ways was the main character. She did great. Though she wasn't as good as Edgerton or Bateman, she certainly held her own. Another great aspect of the movie was the soundtrack and the score. It fit perfectly to the subtly creepy atmosphere. Finally Since the script was so well written the viewer is left in ambiguity towards the morals of a character and I find this masterfully executed with every twist and turn being virtually unpredictable.
All and all I loved this movie. Some might argue that the pacing is a bit off nut with such a short runtime. Certain things are justifiably stretched our skimmed. personally I didn't find this much of a problem. The Gift IS my favorite movie of the year so far and is a must see. The Gift gets an A+ or a 10/10. Simon says go watch this movie!
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The debutant director applies himself with the same quiet assurance and attention to detail he’s displayed in his acting projects.
Clever and atmospheric, the film has enough twists to keep the average viewer guessing.
In addition to directing outstanding performances, Edgerton also suggests psychological processes by means of space, architecture, and décor, exploiting the walls, doorways, windows, and mirrors of the new house to indicate the status of a relationship or self-image.
Initially, it plays like an atmospheric but predictable stalker thriller with not much more than style – and maybe the casting of the always watchable Jason Bateman – to recommend it. Later, though, it turns into a considerably more intriguing and twisty psychological drama.
It’s an assured debut from a rising star that nails tone and pace. It would be a solid summer thriller were it not grossly undermined by its astonishingly regressive treatment of its leading lady.
A Hollywood-like Psycho-Stalker story movie.
Don't be fooled by the fact that the director made the movie influenced by Cache, it would be an insult to Haneke if they were even written side by side.
The only good thing about the movie is that the surprises manage to trigger curiosity and (especially when the stalker disappears) the uncanny atmosphere arouses tension.
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This film gets a 3 purely because of how good a start to a thriller it would be. It build up suspense brilliantly, as the main antagonist became more and more intrusive, but then the film quite simply didn't have an ending. Somebody dying or even a scrap of violence would have been the cherry on top for this film, but it simply didn't come. I was very disappointed, not only because of the potential of this film, but also because I spent and hour and a half watching what should have been a 30 minute opening segment.
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I am simply amazed that anyone found this movie palatable. It starts out well enough as a popcorn thriller, but it feels as if there was some sort of studio decision to make this about social issues... mainly bullying. This movie goes straight downhill from the moment the reveal the 'twist' which is little more that a reason to become preachy about school yard bullying, cyber-bullying and I'm probably leaving a couple out, but I was done the moment they ran with this plot twist. It's a stupid movie, so save your money.
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Production Company
Blumhouse Productions,
Ahimsa Films,
Blue-Tongue Films
Release Date Aug 7, 2015
Duration 1 h 48 m
Rating R
Tagline Not Every Gift Is Welcome.
Awards
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
• 2 Nominations
Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination