Synopsis
A married couple moves out of the city to start their new life together. This new beginning is halted after Simon (Jason Bateman) runs into an old friend from high school, Gordo (Joel Edgerton). After meeting with Gordo they begin to receive several gifts from him. He even comes by the house when Simon is not home and spends time with Robyn (Rebecca Hall). Robyn enjoys him but Simon still sees the same guy from high school, “Gordo the Weirdo.”After a while, Simon severs ties with Gordo. They later found out that many of the things that Gordo said was a lie and they would blame Gordo for their missing dog. Simon is set in his ways about how he feels toward Gordo while Robyn is far more leaning.
This film follows one of the most sadistic revenge stories I have ever seen unravel in my life. The movie has a slow burn that has a big payoff at the end.
Interpretation
This movie brings up the issues we have with our past and how it’s not so easy to leave the past in the past. Joel Edgerton writes four separate cases of the past catching up with the characters. The first one is Robyn and her addiction to pills. A habit she was able to kick until the interactions with Gordo cause her to fall back into it. Simon thought that since they moved away all their old problems would be left there, but geography doesn’t change much.
Then there is Simon and the fact that he continues to be a bully. It started when he was younger towards kids like Gordo and now when he’s older it’s still whatever Simon says goes. Again, the past catches up with Simon when he tells fake stories about someone. He did it first when he was younger and lied about Gordo then did it again with a coworker in order to get a promotion. These two failing to face their past cost them both tremendously. I believe that is the writer trying to say that we need to confront our past before it comes back to haunt us. Robyn was right to get Simon to apologize to Gordo and make amends for the past.
Finally, there is Gordo himself and his inability to let go of what Simon did to him when he was younger. Gordo is relentless and sadistic in his opportunity for revenge. His actions are his way of making up for the past.
