Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn(Rebecca Hall) have just moved and are out shopping when they bump into Gordo(Joel Edgerton), an old friend of Simon’s. He visits their new home, bringing a gift, and starts to become part of their life. More from him inserting himself than them asking him. Simon doesn’t really like him. Robyn is more open to the friendship, but, Simon insists that they cut him off.
But all the time there have been insinuations that something happened between the two in their past, when they were at school. Simon won’t give any details, but Robyn is increasingly bothered and goes investigating. What she learns1 will change her life forever.
The first half of this film is superb. Tense, atmospheric, and, although low-key, so full of threat and hidden danger. I loved the way the relationship between Simon and Robyn was explored. At first they seem like a happily married couple, successful, and trying to start a family. Then we begin to see some cracks, they have a history that isn’t as clear and simple as they would like to show. All relationships are different on the inside than the outside, but some are very different from what even those people on the inside believe them to be.
Simon, at first such a “good guy” is slowly revealed to be an utter shit. It starts out with little things, him always getting his way with Robyn. His “concern” for her that begins to isolate her form other people. His constant dismissal of her worries and fears as irrational and stupid. Gaslighting anyone?
So a great film up until the final third. And to talk about it I have to reveal certain details, so you know, spoiler warning.
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The great reveal is that Robyn was right to fear Gordo all along, he drugged her, filmed it, and left the video for Simon to find after Robyn gives birth. He wants Simon to learn just what doubt can do. Did he rape her? Is Gordo the father of Robyn’s child?
And that squicked me way out. It turned Robyn from the central character in this film into a bit player. The device by which Gordo revenges himself on Simon. I was disgusted by it. The way it uses rape as a weapon between men, ignoring the impact it might have on Robyn herself.
But the thing is, I think a lot of my issues with that aspect of the storyline are because it is used so often, women as toys and trophies between men. But there are really people out there who think that way. Simon clearly did. He owned Robyn and controlled her as much as she could. She had discovered the true Simon before Gordo’s video, and freed herself from him, but Gordo didn’t know that. Didn’t care about her as a person. She was only a tool in his revenge. He was so blinded by the past that he didn’t even consider what his plan would do to an innocent person. Or perhaps he saw Robyn as part of Simon’s team. She was a justified target because of her association?
I still think it was a horrible way to end Robyn’s story. But horrible stories are part of reality, so shouldn’t some films depict that. I do take huge issue with the way this film took away her agency and her personhood at the end. That is unforgivable. The whole way through the film Robyn is the real central character, she is the one getting to know Gordo. She is the one questioning her husband, asking what really went on. And then in the end she is totally sidelined? As though that whole story was irrelevant next to the Simon’s issues.
I did read one review of the film where it said that because of Gordo’s action that the film was back on Simon’s side. I couldn’t disagree more with that. To me it showed just how much bullying can affect people. Gordo’s life at the time was ruined because of what Simon did. And Simon never showed one iota of regret. His apology scene was a perfect illustration of that. Simon is you typical “good guy” when things are going his way, but really, go against him in any way and the asshole reveals himself. His bullying not only destroyed Gordo at the time but it had long lasting consequences. And in the end, his desire for revenge turned Gordo from the victim into the perpetrator. Which again, is an interesting, and more truthful aspect of life that movies don’t usually reflect on. Usually men who fight back against the wrongs done to them, in film, fight only the bad guys. They become Batman, or the Punisher. They destroy people, certainly, but only the people who deserve to be destroyed. The Gift offers a more realistic take, the cycle of violence repeating again. The victim has become the victimiser.
I’m so glad you reviewed this movie because I hadn’t even heard of it! I love love love Jason Bateman (though not all of his movies… have you seen Bad Words? The movie was mediocre but he was great). He’s like Steve Carell, deft at both comedy and drama. I’m looking forward to seeing this one.
It didn’t get any press coverage that I saw over here, and I didn’t see a trailer either. Came across it somewhere and it sounded interesting but didn’t think it’d come to me local cinema. And then it did, so I figured let’s give it a go.
Glad I did.
This is certainly more drama than comedy.