The Gift is a creepy thriller that quietly and subtly unnerves, creating skin crawling tensions for the audience.
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?