For a contemporary psychological stalker thriller, THE GIFT does it the old-fashioned way—it earns its creepiness…
With no wild digital effects or bloody shock sequences to jolt your senses into submission. Just tried and true, effective cinema tricks that keep the viewer’s nerves on edge.
Alfred Hitchcock would have approved.
The film also marks a step in a different direction for Jason Bateman who leaves his familiar light, comedic territory here for a walk on the wilder side – a fatal attraction flick with a twist.
Written, directed and co-starring Joel Edgerton (Zero Dark Thirty), THE GIFT starts out innocently enough.
Bateman and wife Rebecca Hall are newly transplanted from Chicago to L.A. by his employer. They’re also hoping to start their family anew after her miscarriage and heavy doses of depression which followed it in the Windy City.
But what starts out innocently enough soon turns into full-fledged thriller cinema.
It all begins when a former classmate from high school suddenly taps Bateman on the shoulder. Bateman doesn’t recognize him immediately—but then……
Of COURSE it’s Gordo (Joel Edgerton). And what better way to re-live the past than to invite him for dinner in their new home.
Later that evening Bateman tells the wife that they used to call the old classmate Gordon, the Weirdo, a description which still fits him some 25 years AFTER.
That’s when things turn south.
Wine bottles start appearing on Bateman’s doorstep. Then Gordo himself drops by at the most inopportune times. Situations getting more tense by the day—AND NIGHT!
Is there more to their past than meets the eye?
Sure seems like it, as the story’s unsettling turn of events and forks in the road head into uncharted territory.
What we’ve got here are elements of inner rage coming from every angle.
And a menacing climax that left us trying to piece a few lose ends together as we were leaving the screening.
THE GIFT will keep your nerves on edge for most of its one hour and 48 minutes running time. Count on it.
The psychological thriller scores a queasy B and is new this weekend citywide.
(Reviewed at AMC Ward Parkway)
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on 98.1 FM, KMBZ and anytime on Facebook.
Piece and loose. Otherwise, a compelling review. Looks creepy! (The movie, not your review.)
Thanks for the comment. Spelling has never been one of my better sides—especially in English. Come to think of it my German isn’t great anymore either. And the ‘peace/loose’ must have run right on past my editor……:)
probably worth noting that it is a Sam Raimi film. no slouch in the horror/suspense genres, among others.
Hitchcock would approve? from IMDb about Raimi, “Usually wears a jacket and tie on the set of his films, a tribute to Alfred Hitchcock.”
Hey miketm
I’m not so sure about Sam Raimi having anything to do with “THE GIFT.”
The film was co-produced, written and directed by Joel Edgerton who also co-stars in it as ‘Gordo.’
ok… i’m really confused, based on the movie poster shown above, then this from IMDb:
“The Gift is a 2000 American supernatural thriller film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson and based on the alleged psychic experiences of Thornton’s mother.”
so it must be they remade it and admin grabbed the wrong poster?
Yeap, sure seems that way. An ‘administrative error’….:)
There was a Sam Raimi film from 2000 also named “The Gift”…I think it was based on the experiences of Billy Bob Thornton’s mom (honestly).
yep, just saw that. this one is different. the correct movie poster has a very dark background with a guy – Gordo presumably – holding a brightly wrapped ‘gift’ in turquois and red ribbon.
The wife played Affleck’s girlfriend in “The Town” — great movie.
The Gift from 2000 is a really good, underrated little movie. You can even see Katie Holmes’ boobs if you’re into flat chested, ex Mrs. Cruise. Looks like the only thing this new release shares is the name and genre.
Looks like TKC went confidential too. So much for the “free speech” blabber. The Mexican had the Polar Bear banished from Google. It appears that Tony liked all the hits from the bears racist posts but when the bear turned on Tony he had Google eliminate him. Bet the anonymous comments are going to get spicy now. TKC is like the KC Star, old, tired and over-rated. A dinosaur.
Great review jack. Really makes me want to see it. Your stuff is some of the best on this blog.