The Gift is a creepy thriller that quietly and subtly unnerves, creating skin crawling tensions for the audience.
Joel Edgerton stars, writes, and directs in a subversive psychological thriller. Although the opening frames of the film menacingly portray the new house of Robyn (Rebecca Hall) and Simon (Jason Bateman), but the true evil presents itself in Gordo (Joel Edgerton), a repressed character from Simon’s past. This obvious outsider initially seems harmless, merely unaware of social and personal boundaries, until he delivers a handful of koi fish for the couple’s fishpond. It is a welcoming gift that is disturbingly invasive; a representation of the trio’s relationship, and Bateman abruptly lets him know his presence is no longer welcome. This catalyses an omnipresent tension and fear of the unknown as Hall uncovers 20 year old secrets that will disrupt the dysfunctional balance that was keeping her world together.
The cast has been exceptionally chosen. The fact that Bateman is almost exclusively associated with dry comedy ensures his character’s brusque and controlling behaviour is all the more unnerving and uncomfortable. His character is complemented by Hall’s awkward submissive nature, a relationship that seems more believable than Hollywood’s typical blonde, attractive, conventional female lead. Edgerton’s interactions with the pair create palpable discomfort, adding to the quiet unease that permeates the movie. The film is so successful because of this quietness. Although it has the occasional jump and scream moment, it doesn’t rely on them as its source of fear, preferring to inflict its terror with the discomfort of the unknown. The finale is a culmination of this quiet, tortured calm, reminding viewers that scary isn’t always loud.
The Gift is a testament to Edgerton’s ability to harness the off-kilter and confronting and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the home grown talent.
Do you prefer gory horrors or psychological thrillers?
