10 years in the past, audiences witnessed a terrifying highschool reunion. A clumsy encounter at a division retailer was the begin of a quick descent into the darkish core of the human soul. What looks as if the rekindling of an outdated friendship turns into a horrific story about the weight of the previous, which might come again to hang-out seemingly harmless victims making an attempt to rebuild their lives. It impressed an unsettling function that explores the unthinkable, the place forgiveness stays solely a suggestion. That movie is The Reward, the most annoying thriller of the 2010s.
The Reward, starring Joel Edgerton (Warrior, Loving, Black Mass), Jason Bateman (Ozark, The Outsider, Arrested Growth), and Rebecca Corridor (The Status, The Evening Home, Resurrection), is a psychological thriller that flew underneath the radar for mainstream audiences. It had a stable field workplace efficiency and grossed $60 million from a $5 million manufacturing funds throughout its theatrical run. Critics praised the performances of the three stars in addition to Edgerton’s writing and route. The movie is his function directorial debut.
The Reward is one of the most notable thrillers of the 2010s, a real looking method to a nightmare that might simply occur to anybody. It is a disturbing film primarily as a result of it accomplishes a lot with so little. On its tenth anniversary, we determined to revisit this couple’s encounter with a silent enemy that they did not know existed, and who ended up leaving an indelible mark on their lives.
What Is ‘The Reward’ About?
A loving couple strikes to a new metropolis searching for higher alternatives. Their home appears excellent, with enormous home windows, ample gentle, and even a koi pond at the entrance. Whereas purchasing, Simon is approached by a stranger. He says his identify is Gordo and that he is aware of Simon from faculty. A long time have handed, and Simon both does not keep in mind him or does not need to. When Gordo begins bearing presents and turns into intrusive, the reality involves gentle, and, effectively, it does not finish effectively. Per Rotten Tomatoes’ synopsis of The Reward:
When married couple Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Corridor) unexpectedly encounter Gordo (Joel Edgerton), an acquaintance from Simon’s previous, little do they know that their excellent lives might be thrown into a terrifying tailspin. At first, Simon does not acknowledge Gordo, however after a troubling collection of uninvited encounters and mysterious presents, a horrifying secret emerges. As Robyn learns what actually occurred between Simon and Gordo, she begins to query how effectively she is aware of her partner.
An Excellent and Missed Thriller Sitting at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes
Although it might appear minor, the first encounter between Simon, Robyn, and Gordo demonstrates the movie’s real looking method and the pure performances of comedic Bateman, scream queen Corridor, and Edgerton. The awkward meet-up happens at a retailer cashier’s station, the place Simon tries to pay however is interrupted by a stranger. It is a disruptive encounter that interrupts one thing as mundane as paying in a retailer. Robyn arrives with a few extra gadgets and awkwardly meets Gordo in a fairly uncomfortable state of affairs. It is a cringey reunion between grownup pals that, luckily, does not final lengthy. Nevertheless, Gordo has already planted the seed and located the data he wants to start his rampage.
This scene in itself is a case research. Edgerton’s route of The Reward is flawless. It additionally helps that he is aware of the script from prime to backside and understands precisely what he desires to get at. It’s a character-driven thriller that executes horror tropes continually in the method Hitchcock typically blended and performed with genres. Hitchcock, the director of Psycho and Vertigo, is an simple affect on the movie.
The film is a disturbing journey, primarily for Robyn, who discovers a monster. This monster may very well be her husband, whose previous remained hidden till Gordo’s emergence, or Gordo himself, who would cease at nothing to realize his purpose. That goal is met in a single of the greatest remaining acts of the twenty first century. You may see. The Reward is accessible to stream on Hulu.
