The gift is a special kind of film, in the same vein as Coherence, but without any supernatural stuff. There's great performances from everyone. Especially Bateman stood out. He plays the cocky know-it-all, like he often does, but there's a real powerful performance in there this time. Hall also plays a much better wife role in this, then she did in Transcendence. She's gorgeous by the way. And Edgerton isn't a surprise anymore, he's been great in the The Great Gatsby, Black Mass, Warrior and is so good in this too. He also writes and directs, and for that part it's also very solid. The film has at least 2 really genuine scares, more so then pretty much any of the horrors I've recently seen. At times I wished the film explained some things a little more about the background of the main characters, but for the general story line it's not affected. The is small-scale but keeps you engaged in being interested till the end where it's all leading to. What has kept me from given it an A- right now, is that I haven't felt like soon or maybe ever watching it again. If I would ever do I might still move it up a grade.

B+

delete -- accidentally pressed quote here what should have been an edit in the last message

This was a bit disappointing for me. I liked it, but it didn't thrill me as much as Prisoners or the best of Shyamalan. I just didn't find the premise that interesting, I guess.

B

I agree it isn't as thrilling as Prisoners, but the narrative of Prisoners spins a bit out of control at the end for me, while the Gift stays eerie till the end. I rate them equally.

The Gift has left a bad taste in my brain. Jason Bateman was beaten and broken, entirely of his own doing. They just had to bring the rape into it though. It was overkill and nobody comes out of this movie looking good because of it. At least Rebecca Hall had a win against her true adversary, but Joel Edgerton can't even let her have that, because his character has to get the last laugh. That'll show all the kids that were mean to you 30 years ago.

Rebecca does a great job of playing Jennifer Connelly. Bateman is the approproate of dick kid. And Edgarton, until the very end, keeps you wondering if he is really bad or just a victim of circumstance. I got scared at a few parts and legit jumped at the shower scare. Well made film, but falls apart right as it should become whole.

Disagree. The indication of a potential rape (which I do not believe happened) is a perfect final dose of cruelty and perversity. It is a "last laugh," I s'pose, but in a very acrid, foreboding, noiresque way. I believe the film portrays the entire situation as a sad one, à la the ending of Se7en. Gordo is not portrayed as triumphant.

Superb directing debut by Edgerton. This is what thrillers should be. Intelligent, thought provoking and suspenseful without having to resort to tacky jumps and scares.

Grade: A

Thoroughly enjoyed The Gift, but it could be just because we're so deprived of this kind of smaller well written thrillers these days. Back in the 80's there used to be one pretty much every other week. *B+*

I thought it was boring, very predictable and a bit cliche. Didn't think it managed to create an atmosphere specific to this movie, very by-the-numbers for the genre. A little bit better than "The Invitation" (also a thriller from 2015) which it shares a lot in common.

Bateman was a very poor casting decision BTW.

This is why. Modern audiences don't have the patience for them anymore.

Nah tree. Give me some classic thriller any time of day instead of these "modern" ones.

The Gift

Such a slow-burn thriller, and with sensational performance by Joel Edgerton, Jason Bateman, and Rebecca Hall. This type of thriller is a rarity these days. I was gripped from the first scene, and each level of reveal added to the suspense, with a climax which is simply ingenious. Quite thought-provoking too. And what I didn't expect it to be; jumpy. Not only was it suspenseful, but Edgerton masterfully converts it to scares on a number of occasions. A superb directorial debut.

Now, I adored Sicario, but this might even be the best film of last year. I also love the fact how, and this doesn't happen often, the trailer made me anticipate it but the film even exceeded my expectations.

A+

I wish I'd seen it last year. I'd have nominated it for many awards, particularly Bateman and Edgerton for acting, but also cinematography, direction, and editing. Probably Hall for acting, too.

Glad you are a fan Algren. It's superb.