The tension of having one person unevenly interested in another is a good premise, and the starting point for The Gift. It drew audiences to the theatre, but the upshot is how much better this same film might have been, had it only the strength to carry its own ambitions. The direction is impeccable; some of the facial expressions are so genuine it is both impressive and unnerving. However, like going off a cliff on a two wheeler rather than a motorcycle, the director is unable to generate the momentum required to sustain the fascinating plot. For instance, the ape mask scene might have been truly terrifying - like, unbelievably so - but it was just a missed opportunity, and one of several that separate The Gift from the best scary movies. Nonetheless, it was more good than bad.
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