The Gift (2015) (20/25)

Joel Edgerton wrote, directed and stars in The Gift as Gordo, a high school friend who chances back into the lives of Simon (Jason Bateman) and his wife Robyn (Rebecca Hall). But this is not a happy reunion, and Simon has infinitely less respect for Gordo than Gordo seems to have in return. And when Gordo starts leaving gifts for the family, it’s up to Simon to put a stop to this.

Or is that really what’s happening? Edgerton isn’t interested in telling a simplistic story about innocent victims falling prey to a potentially dangerous interloper. Instead, he uses The Gift to examine the ways that young trauma permeates throughout our adult lives, changing everyone it touches and leaving nobody unscarred. There are reversals upon reversals in The Gift and every single moment, right up to the absolutely painful climax, seems to leave a stain.