History Film / TheGift2015

* BlackAndGrayMorality: [[spoiler:It's true that Simon was a JerkAss who ruined Gordo's life and showed no remorse for it decades after the fact. And Simon continued to mistreat and provoke Gordo, never mind that such behavior could only make the situation worse for himself and his wife. But it's also true that, in order to get his ultimate revenge on Simon, Gordo (possibly) violated Robyn even though she had nothing to do with Simon's actions and in no way encouraged them.]]

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Gordo gains his ultimate revenge by (possibly) having his way with Robyn after she fainted and impregnating her, then refusing to tell Simon whether the baby is his or not. And Simon can't do anything to expose Gordo because everyone now knows what a deceitful bully he has been]].

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Simon could have acknowledged Gordo and admitted what he did was wrong, but his continued bullying of Gordo only convinces him to up the ante.

* {{Gaslighting}}: Every which way. Robyn accuses [[spoiler:Simon of letting her think she was going crazy by not telling her about his history with Gordo. He's revealed to have bullied others by spreading malicious gossip. And Gordo's plan is to ruin Simon's life by gaslighting both him and his wife.]]

** [[CatScare When the Callums' dog returns home.]]

%%* RapeAsDrama: [[spoiler: Maybe, maybe not.]]

%%* StalkerWithACrush: Gordo towards Robyn.

* TooCleverByHalf: Simon, showing how little he has changed his habits since his school days, constantly dismisses Gordo as a stupid loser who could never accomplish anything. [[TwistEnding Beeeeeg]] [[BreakTheHaughty mistake]].

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler: There’s only ONE consistent truth throughout the whole movie: Simon is violent and untrustworthy. Everything else is up to interpretation. This would suggest Simon isn't a victim, but actually getting his comeuppance.]]

* BrokenPedestal: [[spoiler:Simon's and Robyn's relation certainly wasn't perfect, and it had its share of problems. But the first two acts of the movie set it out as at least a functionable relationship, and they do care for each other. Robyn wants nothing more to do with Simon when it sinks in [[SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp just how little he's changed from his high school bully days]].]]

* DickDastardlyStopsToCheat: Simon likely would've gotten the promotion entirely on his own merit but couldn't resist sabotaging Danny [=McDonald=] anyway, whether it was to hedge his bets or simply for his own amusement. This comes back to bite him later.

** Simon mentions to Robyn after her inviting Gordo for dinner about how "it's so amazing how some people change so much after high school and some just stay exactly the same". [[spoiler: Gordo appears to have [[FromNobodyToNightmare underwent a drastic change after leaving high school]] due to his traumatic experience of a certain lie that had ruined his childhood, whilst Simon remained the same bully as he is today after leaving high school, who doesn't draw the line at spreading lies either for his own amusement or to gain an advantage at work.]]

* PsychopathicManchild: Neither Gordo or Simon have changed much since high school, Gordo still being intensely awkward and Simon still being an aggressive and callous bully.

* TheUnapologetic: Simon refuses to genuinely apologize for what he did to [[spoiler: Gordo and dismisses the idea that he was in any way responsible. His actual apology is clearly forced and insincere and Gordo dismisses it as such, going ahead with his plan.]]

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler: There’s only ONE consistent truth throughout the whole movie: Simon is violent and untrustworthy. Everything else is up to interpretation. This would suggest Simon isn't a victim, but actually getting his comeuppence.]]

* DickDastardlyStopsToCheat: Simon likely would've gotten the promotion entirely on his own merit but couldn't resist sabotaging Danny [=McDonald=] anyway, wheter it was to hedge his bets or simply for his own amusement. This comes back to bite him later.

* {{LackOfEmpathy}}: Simon never expresses any genuine remorse for how he treated Gordo or the damaging effects he had on his life, dismissing him as a loser who is whining about his lot in life. He also has no remorse over screwing over Danny to get the job the two were vying for. This can be partially attributed to how his own father treated him which made Simon very callous and hard.

* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. [[spoiler: Gordo exploits Simon's fear of monkeys by dressing himself up in a monkey mask while he films Robyn's possible rape.]]

* DickDastardlyStopsToCheat: Simon likely would've gotten the promotion entirely on his own merit but couldn't resist sabotaging Danny McDonald anyway, wheter it was to hedge his bets or simply for his own amusement. This comes back to bite him later.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Simon sabotaging Danny McDonald ends up getting him fired.

* {{Foil}}: Simon's old friend Greg Pierson is one to him. [[spoiler:Both participated in spreading the rumors that ruined Gordo's life but Greg has acknowledged what he did, feels genuine remorse and is implied to be a much more mature person while Simon is in denial, refuses to take any responsibility for his behavior and is just as much of a bully now as he was then. While Gordo seems content to leave Greg be, he sets about ruining Simon's life in revenge.]]

* Foil: Simon's old friend Greg Pierson is one to him. Both participated in spreading the rumors that ruined Gordo's life but Greg has acknowledged what he did, feels genuine remorse and is implied to be a much more mature person while Simon is in denial, refuses to take any responsibility for his behavior and is just as much of a bully now as he was then. While Gordo seems content to leave Greg be, he sets about ruining Simon's life in revenge.

* FreudianExcuse: Simon's behavior is apparently influenced, at least in part, by how his father treated him.

* BlatantLies: Simon claims his apology to Gordo is sincere and only because he wants to make it. Gordo is unconvinced.

%%* BreakTheHaughty: Gordo's designs for Simon. [[spoiler:And boy, does he.]]

* DisproportionateRetribution: [[spoiler:It's implied that Gordo really ''was'' willing to "let bygones be bygones" up until he sees that Simon has crossed his name out and written "Weirdo" above it. All of Gordo's revenge plans chronologically happen after that point]].

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Simon delivers one to Gordo late in the movie [[spoiler: after Gordo refuses to accept his apology. It's framed exactly like a young bully picking on a less fortunate student, showing how little Simon has really changed. However, it's implied that Gordo let Simon beat him up as part of the plan, considering that he's faked some of his injuries at the end]].