Thrillers in recent years have regained their former popularity with viewers. But, unfortunately, mostly large Hollywood projects, shot for a lot of money, are spinning in cinemas. Much more modest and author's cinema, as a rule, bypasses our country. And it’s very in vain, since among the low-budget films, one can often find much more original and bold works, devoid of the usual stamps. Fortunately, Podarok (2015 film) still came out in Russian box office. But to say that he was successful in him is still impossible. There was no public relations campaign, which is not surprising given the modest budget of just five million dollars. Nevertheless, this film definitely deserves attention.
For every fan of the genre, the film "Gift", the plot of which we will consider below, will be a pleasant find that can surprise you. And if you think that thrillers have long outlived themselves and cannot hit anything, then do not pass this film. You will be surprised at what you see and exactly change your initial opinion.
The cinema turned out to be quite innovative in several aspects at once: camera work, presentation of the plot and, in fact, the story itself. Further, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the synopsis, thanks to which you can make a general impression and decide whether you should watch this movie or not and how the film “Gift” characterizes the reviews.
What is the movie about?
The film "Gift" the plot has a rather interesting. This fact has been noted by many viewers and critics. In the center of the plot of this movie is a man named Simon. He leads a fairly happy family life. Simon’s work is highly paid, so he can afford a pretty good and comfortable house, in which he lives with his beloved wife. Harmony reigned in their lives, which, it seemed to them, no one could destroy. But everything changed after a man appeared on the threshold of their house, whom Simon did not even recognize at first ...
As it turned out later, he is a longtime acquaintance with whom the protagonist had not seen for many years. Once they studied together at school, but since then the contacts have been severed. The main character was surprised by such an unexpected visit, but had nothing against, since the former comrade seemed to be an extremely friendly person. But it soon became apparent that Gordo could pose a serious threat to the main characters. Gradually, the life of Simon and his wife turns into a real nightmare. Will they be able to get rid of the obsessive guest? And what goals does he pursue?
Producer
The director's place was taken by a fairly well-known American actor named Joel Edgerton. At the beginning of the last century, he managed to get one of the roles in the legendary Star Wars saga. But the main success came to him later. Joel appeared in the movie "Trump Aces", which suddenly became a hit at the box office. That movie also starred a huge number of other famous actors such as Ryan Reynalds, Andy Garcia, Chris Pine and Ben Affleck.
In 2011, Edgerton played his best career role. It was a sports drama called "Warrior", which talked about fighters without rules. The actor had to undergo serious training to match his on-screen image. In the same year, he played one of the main roles in the prequel to the cult horror movie "Something."
“Goal Number One,” “The Great Gatsby,” “Exodus: Kings and Gods,” and finally, “The Gift.” In the latter, he not only played one of the main roles, but also for the first time tried his hand at directing. Among other things, Edgerton himself also wrote the script, which made this thriller outstanding. For the debutant, the director coped with his task simply phenomenally. Despite the lack of experience and a modest budget, this film turned out to be extremely high quality and quite deservedly gathered a decent box office in America. One can only hope that this experience will not be the only one in Joel Edgerton's career.
"Gift": actors
In addition to Joel Edgerton, who played the role of an uninvited guest, who invaded the life of the main characters, this film also featured other, no less remarkable actors, perfectly coped with the task. Reviews film "Gift" of a positive nature often receives precisely for the excellent acting.
Jason Bateman
This actor starred in the movie "Gift." Jason Bateman previously starred in many other popular Hollywood films, such as Hancock, I would like to go to heaven, and Unbearable Bosses. In “Gift”, this popular actor once again demonstrated his skills and proved to others that he was able to play a role in a film of any genre.
Rebecca Hall
Simon's wife was played by no less eminent actress Rebecca Hall. It is amazing that in such a low-budget thriller, the director managed to lure such stars. You may know Rebecca for such outstanding works as Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Prestige, City of Thieves and Dorian Gray.
Reviews
Film "Gift" film critics have received quite warmly. He has a lot of positive reviews on major movie portals, as well as a high rating. Many note the fact that such high-quality independent films these days are quite rare. This is especially true for a genre like thriller. Few people have the strength to act simultaneously as an actor and director in their debut work. But the creator of "Gift" did it very well. Joel proved to be an extremely talented person who is not afraid to experiment. It is thanks to this that we got such an original work that will be interesting both to the mass audience and moviegoers.
What else are the reviews talking about? The film "Gift" is almost chamber. The action mainly takes place within the same house. It is rather difficult in such conditions to come up with something that could keep the viewer in suspense for an hour and a half. Nevertheless, as the audience noted, the plot in the "Gift" does not sag. The action takes place relatively evenly, which does not get bored while watching. Film critics noted this moment in their positive reviews.
We think “Gift” (2015 film) can be safely advised to everyone without exception. Everyone will be able to find in this thriller something interesting for themselves.