The Gift (2015)
Film · Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Stream itif you enjoy a slow-burning psychological game where the moral high ground constantly shifts.
A masterclass in psychological unease that uses a simple intrusion to expose the rotting foundation of a modern marriage. It is a deeply uncomfortable and brilliantly acted experience that leaves the viewer questioning who the real villain is long after it ends.
What it is about
Simon and Robyn are a young married couple whose life is going as planned until a chance run-in with Simon's high school acquaintance sends their world into a tailspin.
Trailer
What The Gift is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this is an exercise in escalating discomfort. It begins as a polite, slightly awkward social drama before morphing into a calculated thriller. The pace is deliberate, allowing a thick sense of dread to permeate mundane domestic scenes. It avoids cheap jump scares, relying instead on the prickly tension between three people in a glass house where every gift and gesture feels loaded with hidden meaning.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is for viewers who prefer psychological nuance over physical action. It will appeal to those who like seeing the cracks in a 'perfect' life exposed through dialogue and subtext. However, skip it if you require a clear-cut hero to root for or a fast-paced plot. The film is intentionally cold and can feel quite mean-spirited, which may alienate those looking for more traditional catharsis.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet evening where you can pay close attention to the shifting power dynamics. It is an excellent choice for a post-movie discussion about past actions and their lasting consequences.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Another trailer
Trailer · The Gift | Official Trailer 2 | Own It Now on Digital HD, Blu-ray & DVD
How The Gift leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
It leaves you feeling deeply unsettled and cynical. You will likely walk away pondering how well you truly know those closest to you and the permanence of youthful cruelty.
How The Gift ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
The film ends with Simon’s life in complete ruin. After being fired for sabotaging his colleague, Danny McDonald, Simon returns home to find a series of gifts from Gordo, including a recording of Simon mocking him and a video showing Gordo standing over a drugged and unconscious Robyn. The footage leaves it ambiguous whether Gordo sexually assaulted her. Meanwhile, Gordo visits Robyn at the hospital, sporting injuries he claims Simon inflicted. When Simon arrives, he receives a phone call from Gordo, who tauntingly refuses to confirm if he is the biological father of the newborn baby, mirroring Simon’s own refusal to admit to his past lies.
Robyn, disgusted by Simon’s history of cruelty, refuses to let him see the infant and demands a separation. Simon breaks down outside the hospital as Gordo watches from a distance. Having successfully dismantled Simon’s career and marriage, Gordo discards his arm sling and walks away, satisfied that his revenge is complete.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
Caché (2005)
the same unnerving feeling of a past secret invading a comfortable bourgeois life
One Hour Photo (2002)
a similar exploration of social boundaries being crossed by a lonely, obsessive figure
Fatal Attraction (1987)
the shared theme of a domestic sanctuary being systematically dismantled by an outsider
Suggested by our AI for what they share with this one. Linked titles have a page here; the rest are worth a search on the browse page.
More clips
Trailer · The Gift (2015) - Official Trailer - Jason Bateman, Joel Edgerton
Teaser · The Gift | "What's in the Box" TV Commercial | Own It Now on Digital HD, Blu-ray & DVD
Teaser · The Gift | “Super Twisted" TV Commercial | Own It Now on Digital HD, Blu-ray & DVD
The Gift soundtrack
Music by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans
Questions people ask
- Is The Gift a tense film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Tense. A masterclass in psychological unease that uses a simple intrusion to expose the rotting foundation of a modern marriage. It is a deeply uncomfortable and brilliantly acted experience that leaves the viewer questioning who the real villain is long after it ends.
- How long is The Gift?
- The Gift runs 108 min and was released in 2015.
- Where can I watch The Gift in the UK?
- In the UK, The Gift is included with Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel.
- Who composed the music for The Gift?
- The music for The Gift is by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans.
- Is The Gift worth watching?
- Stream it: if you enjoy a slow-burning psychological game where the moral high ground constantly shifts. IMDb users rate it 7.0 out of 10 from 182,733 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 92%, Metacritic 77 and TMDB users 6.7.
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