The Gift

Annie Wilson is a young widow supporting her three kids by reading fortunes and offering glimpses of the future to paying clients. But her own life is clouded, and she finds it harder to see past the shadows that gather around her. A threatening husband looms over a client, and rumors of a missing local woman surface in her visions, pulling her into a dangerous tangle of lies and deceit. As she leans into her psychic gift to uncover hidden motives, Annie discovers that the line between help and harm is thin, and the danger closing in may come from people she thought she could trust. The pressure mounts, forcing her to balance truth, protection, and her own survival.

Released in 2000, The Gift was directed by Sam Raimi with a screenplay by Tom Epperson and Billy Bob Thornton, based on an original concept rather than a book. The project marks Raimi's shift toward mood driven suspense and character focused storytelling.

Critics responded to Blanchett's controlled performance and Raimi's surprising pivot away from his horror roots toward psychological suspense. The movie questions how belief can be used or abused, and it looks at the ethical gray areas of foretelling the future. Family, fear, and the cost of certainty drive the tension.

Not a blockbuster, The Gift nonetheless stands out in Raimi's catalog for a restrained, atmospheric approach and for letting Cate Blanchett carry the film with quiet authority. It helped broaden audience expectations of his work and is often cited as a rare example of serious thriller craft in his career.

Box Office: The film earned a modest box office and was released in select markets, with attention mainly from fans of tense dramas and Raimi's work. While not a blockbuster, it found steady footing among audiences seeking a quieter thriller.