(3 / 5)
A lukewarm thriller.
While this may be a thriller, it’s not really all that thrilling, all told.
Simon (Jason Bateman) and wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall) have just moved to Los Angeles, near Simon’s hometown. It all kicks off when Simon (Jason Bateman) and wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall) bump into Simon’s old schoolmate ‘Gordo’ (Joel Edgerton) while out shopping. As he presses his way into their lives, it becomes clear that he has a hidden agenda.
Joel Edgerton directs, writes AND stars in this. You’ve got to give him credit for producing a decent film; it isn’t always a recipe for success (see Tommy Wiseau, The Room). The acting overall is very good, and Rebecca Hall’s American accent is flawless.
There was just a tad too little suspense for my liking. They needed to turn up the thrill-meter. This could have made a huge difference to the film overall. If you compare this to something like Gone Girl, for example – in terms of being gripping, there is no comparison. Having said that, it is still entertaining. Just don’t expect too many thrills and you’ll enjoy it!
The Gift premieres in Sweden on October 2.