Joel Edgerton has clawed his way up the ladder in Hollywood, moving on up from the foreign indie ranks (The Square and Animal Kingdom) to featured co-starring roles (Warrior opposite Tom Hardy) and spots in larger projects (Zero Dark Thirty and The Great Gatsby), but The Gift allows the multi-hyphenate (as writer, feature debut director and star) to truly spread his wings as a mysterious stranger from the past who insinuates himself into the lives of a married couple (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall), with twisted and deadly results. Sounds like the past is the unexpected gift that keeps on giving. (Opens wide Friday) (R) Not screened in time for review
