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The Gift

21 August 2015English1h 48m
out of 10
Recommendedmost critics liked it
Monk Score · 5 scored reviews · 2 not rated

Weighted from a 7.4 average · Why?

A taut psychological thriller carried by sharp performances from Edgerton and Bateman.

Verdict tier Recommended, most critics liked it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: cast performances and tension
  • Criticised: Allison Tollman underused in minor role

Audience

User score 7.2 out of 10 from 5 ratings, Recommended

Critic consensus

What 7 critics are saying

Critical reception for The Gift is broadly positive, with reviewers consistently praising its sustained tension and psychological depth. Performances across the cast, particularly from Joel Edgerton and Jason Bateman, are frequently highlighted as a key strength. Technical craft including cinematography, editing, and background score also draws appreciation. The only concrete criticism raised is the underuse of Allison Tollman in a minor role that critics felt added little to the narrative.

How the 5 scores spread

2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

The Monk Score is weighted from a plain average of 7.4 · how scores work

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 7 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (7)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    What really drives the movie home are the excellent performances from the entire cast. Edgerton is delightfully strange, while Bateman is pretentious in an endearing kind of manner. The only wasted opportunity is the superb Allison Tollman from 'Fargo' is cast in a minor role that doesn't add anything to the story. But that's only a minor complaint in an otherwise awesome movie. As far as thrillers with smart thrills go, it doesn't get better than 'The Gift'.
  2. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Edgerton and Bateman put in very good performances in a story that depends entirely on our inability to trust their characters.
  3. Top critic

    Rediff

    Film review ·

    The Gift is much more than a boilerplate Hollywood horror film...
  4. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    The Gift is uniformly intense without being heavy. Not for one second does it drag. If you enjoy psych-thrillers, there will be plenty to think about long after the end credits have rolled. Do not miss this one.
  5. Bollywood Life

    Film review ·

    On the technical front, the film has good production values. The camera work, the background score and editing are precisely noteworthy. With a couple of terrific jump scares, the film certainly has its share of actual fright, but the real terrors are in the mind. The film is worth watching for its treatment.
  6. BookMyShow

    Film review ·

    You must watch The Gift because this is a thriller that fans of the genre have been waiting for. You must watch it for the sincere performances of the cast. Bring an open mind to the movie hall though.
  7. The Hindu

    Film review ·

    Quite remarkably, there is no gratuitous violence in the film, despite the palpable tension all around. Even the climax rests on merely the hint of an unspeakable crime, an idea planted Inception-like in the mind. And just as the last scene of Inception leaves you to figure out if the spinning top stopped or not, the last scene here has you wondering: did Gordo do the dirty deed or not? Go figure.

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

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