The Gift (2015)

Starring: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall & Joel Edgerton

Directed by: Joel Edgerton

Rating: ★★½

Remember that time in the late 90s/early 00s when every single film had a twist ending? And almost all of them were completely unnecessary? And almost all of them were completely stupid?

He's watching you...

I present to you, for your viewing displeasure: The Gift, a film 15 years out of date, as it tries- and fails- to deliver a jarring and potent shock, which, instead of thrilling us, just ends up ruining the entire 90 minutes that preceded it.

And there isn’t just one twist- there’s two- but whilst the first twist is actually smart and unique the second is silly and incredulous. When the credits rolled, I thought to myself: either this film is genius or it’s awful.

 It’s awful.

Everything's okay- no it realy isn't....

Which, as I’ve said before, is such a shame, as the everything leading up to the ‘real’ reveal is really strong. As a drama/thriller The Gift really works, but just like The Village it has been deceptively advertised as a horror movie- which it most definitely isn’t.

Gordo is more strange than scary.

Not that I minded. Also like The Village, although I paid to see a horror movie, I didn’t mind that The Gift wasn’t one, as it was compelling and twisted enough to keep me hooked. But unlike The Village, the ‘real’ twist just doesn’t work.  

Luckily for us, this film bears no resemblance to that terrible Kate Blanchett movie also called The Gift- as this one isn't about ghosts and Keanu Reeves or whatever.

Simon and Gordo have a chat...

The film is about Simon (Bateman) and Robyn (Hall), a married couple who begin being semi-stalked by a socially awkward man called ‘Gordo’ (Edgerton), who keeps giving them gifts.

Single White Female this is definitely not- in a good way- as the threat of the strange man coming into the couple’s lives is told in a unique and compelling way- and then when the first twist happens it really opens the film up into quite a powerful and serious drama.

Gordo tries to befriend Robyn.

Then the second twist happens, and it craps on everything that went before it.

Luckily, a strong performance from Hall and an interesting storyline about bullying keeps you watching to the end- even though you may wish you hadn’t.

Rebecca Hall is a great actress- I really rate her.

Perhaps I wanted something a bit more serious than the finale that sits firmly on the hammy end of the twist ending  spectrum, but for those wanting a silly, watchable thriller that leaves a very bitter aftertaste, it almost gives exactly what one might expect from a traditional throwaway thriller.