The Gift is a cautionary tale about how wrongdoings of the past can sometimes rear their ugly head in the present. It’s a suspenseful and at times unnerving story with plenty of twist that will keep you guessing to the very last frame.
Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Horrible Bosses) and Rebecca Hall (The Town, Iron Man 3) play Simon and Robyn, a young couple who have recently moved to start a new life as Simon begins a new job. Everything seems perfect, but it’s clear there are underlying reasons why the couple has fled their previous location.
Their ideal world is upset by the surprise appearance of Gordo (Joel Edgerton; Black Mass, Warrior), a classmate from Simon’s past who Simon at first doesn’t recognize. In attempt to be nice, Simon and Robyn exchange phone numbers with the socially awkward man, and things begin to escalate in bizarre and creepy ways.
Bateman, Hall, and Edgerton (who also wrote and directed the film) don’t miss a beat, keeping the audience on edge wondering who will snap first, and who is the real bad guy of the story. Is it Simon? Robyn? Gordo? You’ll be surprised by the answer.
I really enjoyed The Gift. To me, it was reminiscent of What Lies Beneath starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer in terms of its twists and suspenseful pacing. Unlike What Lies Beneath, however, The Gift isn’t a ghost story, per se, but it does explore how the real life ghosts of the past can sometimes come back to haunt you.
The Blu-ray includes the following bonus features:
Alternate Ending
Deleted Scenes
Karma for Bullies
Joel Edgerton talks about his inspiration for the film.
The Darker Side of Jason Bateman
Joel Edgerton talks about why casting Jason Bateman as Simon was crucial to the film.
Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Joel Edgerton
For a film that will make you uneasy the next time you see a person from your past, I recommend The Gift!
The Gift is available NOW on DVD and Blu-ray!