Review of The Gift (2015) by Dana F — 29 Jun 2017

While most films start out strong and progressively start to suck (ex: "Gangster Squad"), this is a film that gets better as it goes along.  The set-up is very familiar, you've definitely seen movies with this premise before (unassuming acquaintance of nice couple becomes crazy stalker.

.. you all know it well), but this film takes it in a different direction.  Thank god, because otherwise this movie would have been ridiculously derivative.  It starts out as a basic thriller, mixes in a dash of mystery, and garnishes liberally with psychological drama.

  The result is a pretty exciting dish.  The acting is pretty good too, most notably by Jason Bateman, who really tackles a role that was tough to nail.  I don't think I've ever seen him in a role like this, but he's great.

  The film successfully builds suspense and tension, and the mystery unfolds just enough bit by bit to keep you invested.  It also challenges your perception of good guy versus bad guy, and by the end, it's ambiguous as to who the villain actually is.

   Though most of the film does succumb to a great many predictable suspense/thriller clichés, the ending does not.  There is not a clean resolution, and while what happens to each character is unresolved, the message of the film is clear: words are powerful.

  I won't ruin it for you, but I will say that at its core, it's a morality lesson about honesty.  I was surprised to find out that this film was both written and directed by Joel Edgerton, who also plays the role of the stalker, and I have to say he did a pretty bang-up job on all accounts.

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