10 Films That Helped Blumhouse Take Over Cinema

The Gift was a rather different proposition for Blumhouse than the rest of its 2015 output, which was largely the same brand of formulaic horror that had become the centrepoint of the studio's oeuvre. Instead of scares and silliness, this is a cerebral thriller with a pitch black heart.

In keeping with the Blumhouse ethos of supporting budding filmmakers, The Gift is written and directed by actor Joel Edgerton. As well as directing, he stars as the old school friend of Jason Bateman's character, who inveigles his way back into the life of Bateman, as well as his wife, played by Rebecca Hall. It's a story of obsession that trades heavily on the idea that people should face consequences for the misdeeds of their past.

To say much more about the plot of The Gift would be to spoil its magic, but it's a prime example of the sort of intriguing and unique filmmaking that the Blumhouse model supports. There's an almost unpalatable darkness to the movie that makes it a real risk for any studio, but Blumhouse backed Edgerton and the result was a very special film.