The Gift (2015)

The Gift (2015)

A thriller about the past coming back to haunt you.

Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars

Plot: Simon and Robyn move to LA, where they run into Gordon, a guy Simon knew from school growing up. Gordon welcomes the couple to their new home by leaving a  gift on their doorstep. Soon, he starts dropping by frequently and leaving more gifts, making Simon uncomfortable and uneasy.

Analysis: Most of this movie is just average, with an ending that makes it below average for me. The acting is alright but nothing spectacular. There is a general sense of growing unease and some suspenseful moments that increase the tension. The viewer slowly finds out more information but it’s unclear what exactly to believe.

One thing I didn’t like was Robyn functioning more as a plot device with little agency rather than as a full adult woman. My biggest problem was with the twist ending that was certainly a twist but crossed a line of tastefulness that I didn’t appreciate. The ending made me feel gross, and I’m sure the shock value was intentional but I didn’t like it. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend The Gift.