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Most of us know what to expect from the typical thriller: a lot of dark scenes, some haunting music, and plenty of loud noises that are perfectly timed to make audiences shriek and jump out of their seats. But with his directorial debut, The Gift, Joel Edgerton gives viewers more than they may be expecting.
The Gift stars Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall as Simon and Robyn, who are in the process of settling into a new house near Simon’s hometown in California when they happen to run into one of his old classmates. Edgerton’s Gordo is quick to welcome them to the neighborhood, leaving gifts on their doorstep and offering both friendship and help with the move. But his constant attention isn’t entirely welcome—and when Simon decides that it’s time to ask Gordo to leave them alone, their relationship takes a dark turn.
The Gift starts out like the average psychological thriller. Edgerton’s directing choices mix well with the dark and eerie score to set the stage for plenty of jumpy suspense and cheap scares as Robyn tries to decide whether Gordo is an obsessive psychopath or just a socially awkward guy who’s desperately in need of a friend. It all seems to be rather typical, but it’s pretty effective nonetheless—and it’s guaranteed to have audiences flinching and gasping and chuckling nervously.
Just when you’ve settled into the seemingly conventional nature of the film, though, it takes a startling twist. Robyn begins picking up on hints that suggest that the story isn’t as simple and straightforward as it originally appeared to be. As she digs a little deeper, the information that she uncovers completely changes the film’s foundation. And, suddenly, what began as a haunting but somewhat predictable thriller becomes darker and more twisted than you might expect.
The talented cast, meanwhile, helps to elevate The Gift beyond the average scary movie. Bateman and Hall give life and depth and personality to their characters, while Edgerton manages his four-fold role in the film (as writer, director, producer, and costar) with amazing ease. Not only is he wonderfully creepy as Gordo, but he’s also managed to write and direct a thriller that’s surprisingly out of the ordinary.
Of course, if you’re just looking for a movie that will make you clutch your armrest with one hand while covering your eyes with the other, The Gift is definitely dark and eerie enough to fit the bill. But the clever twists make it more than just the same old thriller.
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