“The Gift” is a 2015 psychological thriller movie that was written, directed, and produced by Joel Edgerton in his directorial debut. It is an exploration of the lengths to which past traumas and guilt can extend into the present, disturbing the fabric of seemingly serene lives and revealing the dark underbelly of suburban tranquility.
At the heart of “The Gift” lies the story of a seemingly content young married couple, Simon Callum (Jason Bateman) and Robyn Callum (Rebecca Hall), who are embarking on a new chapter of their lives, after leaving the windy city of Chicago behind, they settle down in the sun-soaked expanse of Los Angeles, eager to start anew. Their life, which at the outset appears idyllic, is marked by Robyn’s quiet battle with past substance abuse and the couple’s tragic miscarriage.
Their newfound serenity is interrupted when Simon unexpectedly runs into Gordon “Gordo” Mosley (Joel Edgerton), a former high school acquaintance while shopping for furnishings for their new home. This chance encounter brings back memories from their shared past, a past that Simon is not comfortable confronting.
Gordo, a man who has evidently remained an outsider from his high school days, assumes a role that’s far more intimate than a mere acquaintance. He starts delivering unsolicited gifts to Simon and Robyn’s home, subtly forcing his way into their lives. His gifts, initially perceived as friendly gestures, become progressively more personal and strange, indicating a desire to form a deeper connection with the couple.
Gordo’s increasing presence becomes a source of discomfort for Simon. His discomfort is driven by a twofold unease: he remembers Gordo as a social outcast with unusual behavior from their high school days and fears the intrusion of his past into his carefully constructed present life. He’s disturbed by Gordo’s overtures of friendship, which he views as invasive and inappropriate.
Robyn, on the other hand, views Gordo through a more empathetic lens. She sees a lonely, socially awkward man who is simply trying to reconnect with an old classmate. This difference in perception begins to create a subtle rift between Simon and Robyn, setting the stage for the tension and dramatic events that follow.
The veneer of their ideal life begins to crack, revealing the lasting echoes of a shared past, as Simon, Robyn, and Gordo become entangled in a psychologically complex narrative. The premise of the film thus masterfully blends elements of thriller and drama, centering around the past’s powerful influence on present relationships and circumstances.
Unlike Simon, Robyn’s approach to Gordo is marked by empathy and understanding. She perceives him as a lonely, socially awkward individual trying to form connections, rather than a threat. This outlook is influenced by her own personal struggles, which add depth and complexity to her character.
Robyn is dealing with an array of issues: an unsettled career, emotional trauma from a past miscarriage, and a battle with substance abuse. These struggles make her life far from perfect, and the facade of her well-settled life begins to crumble as she grapples with her internal turmoil.
Robyn’s career, once thriving, is currently in a state of flux. Having moved to a new city and left her old job behind, she finds herself in a stage of transition, wrestling with the uncertainty of what lies ahead professionally. This sense of instability adds another layer to her growing list of concerns.
Her history of substance abuse, a struggle she keeps mostly hidden, is a battle she fights every day. Despite appearing calm and composed on the surface, beneath it, she is constantly wrestling with her past demons. The trauma of losing an unborn child further amplifies her struggle, leading to a profound sense of loss and grief.
In the midst of these personal challenges, Gordo’s presence, which Simon finds unsettling, offers Robyn a distraction. Gordo’s socially awkward yet seemingly harmless behavior provides a form of diversion from her personal issues. His consistent attention towards them, his uninvited yet unthreatening visits, his lingering presence – all serve as an escape for Robyn from her own struggles.
However, what starts as a distraction slowly turns into a complicated situation as Gordo’s actions become progressively more enigmatic. Even so, Robyn continues to view him sympathetically, a reflection of her innate kindness and empathy. Her interaction with Gordo contrasts Simon’s reaction, creating a complex dynamic that plays a crucial role in the unfolding narrative of “The Gift.”
As “The Gift” progresses, the audience is drawn deeper into the convoluted relationship between Simon and Gordo. The backstory of their high school days reveals a sinister event that casts a shadow over the present. The narrative ingeniously employs the element of suspense and intrigue as it slowly unveils the skeletons in Simon’s closet.
In their school days, Simon was a popular student, while Gordo was more of a social outcast. Taking advantage of this social dynamic, Simon wielded his popularity like a weapon and inflicted a cruel act of deception on Gordo. He spread a malicious rumor suggesting that Gordo had been sexually assaulted by an older boy. This unfounded rumor spiraled out of control, leading to “Gordo the weirdo” being ostracized by his peers and eventually expelled from school.
Simon’s lie wasn’t just a juvenile prank; it was an act of calculated cruelty that forever altered the course of Gordo’s life. This damaging rumor not only isolated Gordo socially but also triggered a series of unfortunate events that derailed his life, setting him on a path of social alienation and personal suffering.
The revelation of this dark incident is a pivotal moment in the film. It shatters the illusion of Simon as a harmless protagonist and exposes the depths of his past cruelty. It also changes the audience’s perception of Gordo, from a seemingly strange stalker to a victim of past torment.
For Robyn, learning about her husband’s cruel past is a shocking and disorienting revelation. It changes the dynamic of their relationship and the way she perceives Simon. Furthermore, her sympathy for Gordo intensifies, leading to tension within her marriage and a significant shift in her relationship with both men.
This sets the stage for a dramatic plot twist. Simon, who was initially presented as a seemingly perfect husband, is unveiled as a manipulative and unscrupulous individual. His ruthlessness extends beyond his personal life to his professional world, where he is seen sabotaging his colleague’s promotion to further his own career.
Gordo’s revelation expertly injects a palpable tension into the film’s atmosphere. From this point onwards, the narrative evolves into a psychological power play between the three characters, as they navigate the fallout of their uncovered past and its consequences in their present lives. The complex dynamics between Simon, Robyn, and Gordo give the narrative a heightened sense of suspense and anticipation for the audience.
The plot takes a chilling turn when, following a tense argument with Simon, Robyn goes into premature labor. She gives birth while unconscious. Upon waking, she is visited by Gordo, who implies that he could have done anything while she was unconscious, hinting at the unsettling possibility that he may be the father of her newborn child.
“The Gift” leaves the question of the baby’s paternity deliberately ambiguous. In the film, Gordo suggests to Robyn that he could have fathered the child while she was unconscious, but he also leaves her a DNA test kit, implying that he might not have done anything at all. The film ends without revealing the results of the DNA test or definitively answering whether Gordo fathered the baby. This ambiguity is part of the psychological manipulation and torment that Gordo inflicts on Simon. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether Gordo is the father of the baby or not.
The film, however, masterfully leaves this detail ambiguous. Gordo gives Robyn a paternity test kit, placing the decision of discovering the truth in her hands. The audience, much like the characters themselves, is left in a state of suspense, never knowing for sure if Gordo is the father of the baby.
This becomes a form of psychological torture for Simon, who is left to grapple with his own fears and uncertainties. In an ironic twist of fate, Simon, who was once the orchestrator of manipulation, finds himself ensnared in a web of deceit and uncertainty, becoming the victim of manipulation himself. The narrative of “The Gift” therefore offers a thought-provoking exploration of the consequences of past actions and the devastating effects of manipulation and deceit.