Jason Bateman may usually be associated with comedy than a dark thriller but like Robin Williams, Lee Evans and Jim Carrey, now makes the hop to the thriller genre in ‘The Gift’.

 

Successful businessman, Simon (Bateman) leads his wife (Rebecca Hall) away from her business in Chicago to move to a new house in LA. Upon their first day in town, they bump into Gordon (writer and director Joel Edgerton) who’s clingy approach to the past turns sinister when the family find his behaviour too strange to comfort.

 

While the developing relationship between the Gordon, Lucy and Gordo is well played, ‘The Gift’ falls under the illusive trailer spoiler territory. As the tale of terror unfolds, the audience are just waiting for events to turn sour and while the expansion of events portrayed in the trailer are here, it still becomes predictable. Fortunately, the final act really becomes its own and the true spirit of revenge comes into play as the two central characters come to blows with a closing scene that is certainly one of the most fucked up conclusion on film.

 

Despite the films focus on the two male leads, Rebecca Hall continues to dominate as the feeble wife who is manipulated throughout the film. Her character evolves like no other and from the early moments to closing credits, works every second she is on screen.

 

‘The Gift’ truly is a present that needs to be unwrapped and while many will want to rush to see what’s inside, pays to slowly unwrap with patience being key. Joel Edgerton has shown that the pen is truly mightier than the sword as the well written script works until the very end, cashing in the cheque that the film promises to fulfil.

 

Once again a shining example of how Jason Blum and the team at Blumhouse really own the genre whether it’s ghosts (‘Sinister 2’, ‘Unfriended, ‘The Gallows’), thrillers (‘The Gift’) or the south American jungle (‘The Green Inferno’) there really is no questioning that Blumhouse is the new home of horror.

 

Simon says… Go see it!