Rating of
3.5/4
Let Bygones Be Bygones
Unknown - wrote on 08/10/15
'The Gift' is not the typical domestic stalker thriller that the trailer made it out to be. No, this is a very smart and unconventionally unnerving story. It's a perfectly paced slow build focused on engrossing character dynamics. These people feel real and layered. They are hiding secrets that, when exposed, will threaten personal relationships and alter their lives for the worse. The subtle tension built from various encounters with Gordo is based in the reality of the situation. His over-friendliness and unpredictable nature has an overbearing quality that leaves you wondering when he'll show up uninvited next and what he is capable of. Certain scenes showing wide sections of the house leave you anticipating his face in a window or hallway. It generates the paranoid feeling you'd have if you were in the exact same situation. This area is handled masterfully, but the film also has another agenda. The little bits of information on Gordo and Simon's fractured past are revealed gradually. Perceptions on each of their opposing intentions evolves into a believable scenario when you find out the truth behind their history. It's something that most people have experienced on either side, or have seen done to others. I don't want to give it away. I will say that it delivers a great message about the long term psychological effects of bullying. This feeds into the outcome of the finale, making a cold statement on the issue that will likely stay with you after you see it. It is probably the best ending to any movie I've seen so far this year. I highly recommend this terrific small thriller.
