The Gift
- Krista Wagner
- Nov 18, 2015
- 3 min read
*Note: There are spoilers in this review.
"A young married couple's lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband's past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years" (IMBD).
Joel Edgerton's first full-length directorial debut The Gift is a masterpiece. But it is also a failure. But I want to stress the strengths over the weaknesses because, overall, Edgerton writes and directs a storyline that is both unprecedented and tasteful, and the pros ultimately outweigh the cons. Edgerton's script has a unique premise, but it is missing some information.
Jason Bateman (Simon), Rebecca Hall (Robyn), and Joel Edgerton (Gordo) all come together in an intriguing triangle. Each of these actors are stunning in their roles, offering very believable and compelling performances. From the beginning, we don't know why Gordo, Simon's high school classmate, seems interested in the couple. It's been 25 years since Simon and Gordo have communicated, and yet Gordo shows a clear interest in his long-lost acquaintance. To Robyn, his approach seems innocent and pleasant: his gift of a wine bottle and his invitation to his home for dinner are simple reaching outs. But to Simon, Gordo is nothing different than the "weirdo" he was in high school and he is put off by his advances and cuts off the "friendship". But Gordo won't go away.
Here's where the plot shows its originality. Why is Gordo so persistent and personal about being a part of their lives? He leaves handwritten notes to thank them for their company, to apologize when he's overstepped the line after Simon tells him to stay away. There is a definite awkwardness present in A) Gordo's character and B) his interactions with the couple, particularly with Simon. But we still don't really know why. We do know something is off about him and about the way he and Simon relate to one another. Very off.
Edgerton, as a director, manufactures a very complex and intelligent plot. The Gift has something rare. It is unpredictable. This is good because that means it's refreshing and engaging. With every turn, we discover a little more about Robyn and a little more about Simon. And while there are some surprising disclosures about Gordo--he admits to beguiling them about where he really lives, for instance--we continue to be kept in the dark about his motives. This is good too. For it is not until much later that we see a sliver of what propels him once he leaves a note about wishing he could "let bygones be bygones". Of course, this makes the couple wonder what he means and as a viewer, we are a part of their apprehension.
Gordo's gestures and notes and "gifts" result in an emotional wedge between Simon and Robyn. She questions Simon about Gordo's letters, and Simon claims he doesn't know what's going on. But as the story moves along, we see Simon is hiding something of his own and Robyn is suspect. So, she does some investigating of her own and manages to reveal bits and pieces of the past. But even then, she doesn't know as much as her husband learns. While I won't explain the ending, I will say this: Spoiler: For a psychological thriller, no people die, which makes for an even more original plot and a nice manipulation of the genre. Edgerton is less about shocking us than he is about getting us to think about how much we should trust someone.
There are some problems, however. Spoilers: What caused Robyn to pass out? And did Gordo "do" something to her when she was passed out? Edgerton's twin brother appears in a couple of short scenes and you can easily confuse him for Gordo, though that wasn't Edgerton's intent.
The film ends on a cliffhanger, which left me unsatisfied. I wanted to know the truth and I wanted to know what would become of the relationships. Instead, we are left with ambiguity. Moreover, Gordo leaves clues to Simon that only he knows about, all which he should have shared with his wife at the end. I kept thinking how different the marriage would be once she learned the truth about Gordo, what he shared only with Simon, and how much that would have changed the dynamic of Simon's relationship with his wife.
In spite of the incomplete puzzle, I enjoyed the film for its originality, its incredible actors, and for its high status thrill vibe. Edgerton explores avenues that have thus far been left alone in this genre
and asks us to question why we trust certain people, and even if we should.
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