Capturing the magic of Roald Dahl is a tall order. While Matilda, The Witches, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory are now classic children’s films, Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a resounding letdown.

At first, The Gift feels like a film you have seen countless times before. A married couple, Simon and Robyn (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall), move into a new sprawling house. A chance encounter with an old classmate of Simon’s leads to a housewarming gift, which leads to an awkward dinner. Simon is weary of the man, though Robyn is …