Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Remember that kid from high school that nobody liked and you and your friends mercilessly tormented him just because he was different? No? Well, he sure remembers you. Now imagine that all these years later, that person still bears a grudge against you and wants a little payback.

Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall are Simon and Robyn, a married couple that have just moved back to Los Angeles and bought a new home. After Robyn’s recent miscarriage, the relocation and Simon’s new job offer them a fresh outlook, and the future appears bright. But while out shopping one day, Simon is approached by someone who claims to know him. At first Simon doesn’t recognize the stranger, but when he reveals his identity, Simon does in fact remember him, though the reunion is clearly awkward for both. Joel Edgerton plays Gordon Mosely, the old classmate of Simon’s who was known back in school as Gordo the Weirdo. When Gordo starts making friendly but unannounced visits to the house and bestowing unwarranted gifts, Simon is uncomfortable with it and tells him to stay away. Tensions escalate from there. It turns out that both Simon and Gordo have dark secrets that threaten to come to light in very dangerous ways, and Robyn is caught in the middle.

The Gift is a psychological thriller in the classic spirit of Fatal Attraction. Written and directed by Edgerton, it plays up the “psycho-stalker” theme but manages to throw in a few clever twists of its own. Performances are excellent across the board, but Bateman, who nor- mally gets relegated to goofy comedies, really shines here as the callous douchebag who hasn’t changed all that much from his school days.

Shot on digital video, the HD picture features a predominantly dim image. Doubtless this was the director’s intent as an overall mood enhancer, but the light looks like it’s been diffused through a filter. Colors are drab and subdued even in the daylight exteriors, and textures and details appear dull and flat.

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio makes nice use of its surround field but utilizes its panache sparingly. This is a film of quiet menace, sharp dialogue, and a dour score, punctuated by those startling “jump” moments.

Extras include an alternate ending, deleted scenes with optional commentary, feature-length audio commentary with Edgerton, and two short featurettes. DVD and Digital Copy also included.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Universal, 2015
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 108 mins.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Joel Edgerton
Starring: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton