Australian actor Joel Edgerton ventured behind the camera to direct his first feature film, ‘The Gift’ (2015), a psychological thriller in which he also stars alongside Rebecca Hall and Jason Bateman. The plot revolves around a couple formed by Simon, played by Bateman, and Robyn, played by Rebecca Hall, who move to a new house in California when they chance to meet Gordon “Gordo” Moseley, played by Edgerton. , an old schoolmate of Simon. “Fat” begins leaving a series of gifts at the couple’s house, triggering a series of disturbing events that reveal dark secrets from the past from Simon. Tension increases as Robyn begins to suspect the true intentions of her husband and the mysterious “Gordo.” The oppressive atmosphere and unexpected twists are some of the qualities of this film that is currently available in the Amazon Prime Video catalog.
‘The Gift’ received a discreet reception at some festivals and minor film awards. The performance of the director, Joel Edgerton, was awarded the Best Actor award at the Sitges Film Festival. In addition, the film was nominated in the Best New Director category at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) awards, although it did not win the award.
From a technical point of view, ‘The Gift’ is a sample of cHow an independent film can create a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere with limited but well-used resources. The cinematography of the Spanish Eduard Grau is one of the factors to highlight, as it helps to establish the tone of the film, using tight shots and an effective use of light and shadows to reflect the growing restlessness of the characters. On the other hand, the editing helps to intensify the relentless pace of the narrative. Additionally, Edgerton demonstrates a remarkable ability to build tension through direction and script, maintaining precise control over every aspect of the production despite this being his first film as a director. The cast of ‘The Gift’, mainly made up of the triangle formed by Rebecca Hall, Jason Bateman and Joel Edgerton, offer convincing performances that exude a dark and complex depth. The role of Edgerton, who in addition to directing also plays “Gordo,” an enigmatic and disturbing character who leaves an indelible mark on the audience, deserves a special mention.
If international media such as The New York Times commented that remembered “the best Hitchcock” or that it was an “intelligent and effective” thriller for The Washington Post, the critic of Fotogramas de ‘The Gift’ assured that “it is part of that already well-traveled variant of the psycho thriller of the intruder (Joel Edgerton) who bursts into the bosom of a family (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall, a married couple who have just moved into an impressive Californian house), gaining their trust, to pulverize their idyllic happiness But the film. has the wisdom to subvert the mold by progressively sowing doubt about the identity of the newcomer and that of one of the harassed. It is an exercise in style without outstanding features, but where everything is in its place.”
