Title: Movie Reviews: The Gift
Author: Desolation Morris
Recovered Author: Desolation Morris
Published Date: 2016-05-26
Original URL: https://geeknode.co.za/2016/05/movie-reviews-the-gift
Wayback URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20170705032007id_/http://www.geeknode.co.za/2016/05/movie-reviews-the-gift/
Recovery Confidence: high
Categories: Movie Review
Tags: DVD Reviews, Film Reviews, Geek Node, Movie Reviews, South Africa, ster kinekor, the gift

- Genre Thriller
- Director Joel Edgerton
- Actors Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton
- Where we got our copy Ster Kinekor Entertainment
- Reviewed on DVD
- Available on DVD, Bluray

- Desolation Morris

- 1 year ago

- 0 0

When married couple Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) unexpectedly encounter Gordo (Joel Edgerton), an acquaintance from Simon’s past, little do they know that their perfect lives will be thrown into a terrifying tailspin. At first, Simon doesn’t recognize Gordo, but after a troubling series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts, a horrifying secret emerges. As Robyn learns what really happened between Simon and Gordo, she begins to question how well she knows her spouse.

What I thought

After not expecting too much from up and coming Director Joel Edgerton – I was pleasantly surprised by The Gift in more than one aspect.

You know that random, silly judgement some of us make sometimes about someone without a shred of evidence? Like, let’s say that guy on the street you walk past with a beard and a weird coat even though it’s rather hot outside today? I bet he’s up to no good! Why is he wearing that huge coat? Is it to hide something? You know…that sort of line of thought.

This movie plays on the fact that you make that judgement and then it turns out to be 150% correct and then it flies downhill from there until you’re up to your elbows in dead fish and creepy guys staring at you through the window at night.

The movie is psychological from start to finish and in the same school as Gone Girl and maybe even Secret Window – it keeps you interested, it keeps you in suspense and the story unfolds just quick enough to leave you wanting to find out what happens next.

It has its flaws though and while minor at best my biggest complaint is that it sometimes seemed to struggle with maintaining its overly serious atmosphere.

Overall this film is a pretty good example of a rising Directors talent though and if this it’s anything to go by I’d say there are big things still to come from Joel Edgerton. With a nomination for an Empire Award for Best Thriller, The Gift is almost a guaranteed purchase on either DVD or Bluray. It comes with Cast Commentary, Bloopers, Outtakes, A Gag Reel and its original Theatrical Trailer.

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If you haven’t seen this one yet, definitely make it a point of interest to do so.

What other people thought

A more psychological, slow-burn genre exercise than the psycho-stalker shocker it’s being sold as by DIY horror specialists Blumhouse and Robert Simonds’ newly launched STX Entertainment. – Scott Foundas

A fine, tension-filled, intelligent thriller from an exciting emerging filmmaker. – Eric Eisenberg

Even if The Gift, the Australian director Joel Edgerton’s creepy stalker thriller, didn’t make a dramatic U-turn at around the halfway point, it would still rank as a superior specimen. – Stephen Holden

On more than one level — the theme of seething psychopathology that sometimes lurks just below the veneer of normalcy, for instance — “The Gift” may remind some viewers of “Gone Girl.” – Michael O’Sullivan

When married couple Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) unexpectedly encounter Gordo (Joel Edgerton), an acquaintance from Simon's past, little do they know that their perfect lives will be thrown into a terrifying tailspin. At first, Simon doesn't recognize Gordo, but after a troubling series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts, a horrifying secret emerges. As Robyn learns what really happened between Simon and Gordo, she begins to question how well she knows her spouse. What I thought After not expecting too much from up and coming Director Joel Edgerton - I was pleasantly surprised by The Gift in more than one aspect. You know that random, silly judgement some of us make sometimes about someone without a shred of evidence? Like, let's say that guy on the street you walk past with a beard and a weird coat even though it's rather hot outside today? I bet he's up to no good! Why is he wearing that huge coat? Is it to hide something? You know...that sort of line of thought. This movie plays on the fact that you make that judgement and then it turns out to be 150% correct and then it flies downhill from there until you're up to your elbows in dead fish and creepy guys staring at you through the window at night. The movie is psychological from start to finish and in the same school as Gone Girl and maybe even Secret Window - it keeps you interested, it keeps you in suspense and the story unfolds just quick enough to leave you wanting to find out what happens next. It has its flaws though and while minor at best my biggest complaint is that it sometimes seemed to struggle with maintaining its overly serious atmosphere. Overall this film is a pretty good example of a rising Directors talent though and if this it's anything to go by I'd say there are big things still to come from Joel Edgerton. With a nomination for an Empire Award for Best Thriller, The Gift is almost a guaranteed purchase on either DVD or Bluray. It comes with Cast Commentary, Bloopers, Outtakes, A Gag Reel and its original Theatrical Trailer. If you haven't seen this one yet, definitely make it a point of interest to do so. What other people thought A more psychological, slow-burn genre exercise than the psycho-stalker shocker it's being sold as by DIY horror specialists Blumhouse and Robert Simonds' newly launched STX Entertainment. - Scott Foundas A fine, tension-filled, intelligent thriller from an exciting emerging filmmaker. - Eric Eisenberg Even if The Gift, the Australian director Joel Edgerton’s creepy stalker thriller, didn’t make a dramatic U-turn at around the halfway point, it would still rank as a superior specimen. - Stephen Holden On more than one level — the theme of seething psychopathology that sometimes lurks just below the veneer of normalcy, for instance — “The Gift” may remind some viewers of “Gone Girl.” - Michael O'Sullivan [taq_review] The Gift is currently available…

Movie Reviews: The Gift

Movie Reviews: The Gift

2016-05-26

Desolation Morris

One To Watch!

Total - 8.5

85
8.5

Total

Overall this is a pretty good example of a rising Directors talent though and if this film is anything to go by I'd say there are big things still to come from Joel Edgerton.

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User Rating: 3.95 ( 1 votes)

9

The Gift is currently available for purchase on DVD at all major retailers country-wide.

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Desolation Morris

Guest Contributor - Entertainment

Werner is a strange one...he quotes a lot of things...incoherently I might add, also he reviews stuff from time to time. We still don't truly understand what he is or where he came from.

To quote him verbatim:

Make sure they see my twitter handle so I can get hookers and drugs.

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Article Tags:
DVD Reviews · Film Reviews · Geek Node · Movie Reviews · South Africa · ster kinekor · the gift

Article Categories:
Movie Review · Movies
