Act in haste, repent at leisure. We don’t always think through the actions we take and are often blind to the hurt we cause to others (or worse, just don’t care), and more often than not they come back to haunt us. Lies and revenge are the subject of writer and director Joel Edgerton’s film The Gift. When Simon (Jason Bateman) bumps into someone he went to school with his past actions begin to catch up with him.
Simon and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) move back from Chicago to near where he grew up when he gets a new job. Whilst out shopping they bump into Gordo (Joel Edgerton) who Simon went to school with. Gordo’s initial friendly overtones begin to start worrying the couple when they become more and more intrusive. Simon warns him to leave them alone but Robyn begins to suspect that there’s more to their relationship than meets the eye.
The Gift is a psychological thriller which is high on suspense and tension. There are believable performances from all the cast, but it’s the simplicity and authenticity of Simon’s change which pushes it above the norm. It would have been easy to overcook events and make The Gift either incredibly shocking or melodramatic but Edgerton does a great job of relying on subtlety and suggestion.
The Gift is released on DVD and Blu-ray by Lionsgate on Monday.
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