Freeview film of the day: The Gift

The Gift ★★★
Premiere 9.00-11.10pm Film4

A throwback to such yuppie stalker nightmares as Fatal Attraction and Unlawful Entry, this sneaky revenge thriller revolving around shameful past misdeeds is a notable debut as a feature director for actor Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby). Recently relocated to Hollywood, young marrieds Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall “accidentally” bump into one of his old school acquaintances (Edgerton). Soon Edgerton is perpetually on their doorstep bearing gifts until it becomes clear he’s after closure for something awful Bateman swears he can’t remember. But when Hall learns the nasty truth, it changes all their lives for ever. Edgerton moves his keeps-you-guessing mystery along with finely crafted momentum, cleverly manipulating its genre trappings to create a real sense of creepy unease – and a couple of terrific scares – while providing undertones of serious social drama to make the simmering suspense pop. Hall is perfect as the moral compass in this dark, intense and slow-burning twister.

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