As Joel Edgerton's directorial debut, it's impressive, considering the sense of craft going on behind the camera. The y pacing is that of a slow burn, but it's never dull. The premise is also deceptively simple, turning more intricate and involving as the film progresses.
Edgerton, who also wrote the screenplay, refuses to adhere to genre conventions, constantly subverting audience's expectations on how the story plays out. Red herrings, plot twists, shifting perspectives, and moral ambiguity ensue, but they never feel cheap. Like the best thrillers, The Gift evolves naturally and realistically. Edgerton and Rebecca Hall are great, but it is Jason Bateman who impresseses in a totally different guise. As a natural comedian actor, he plays one of his rare, serious roles to terrific effect.
7.5
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