The Gift

Name: The Gift
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Released: December 20, 2000
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Katie Holmes, Keanu Reeves

2000

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 119 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 119 Ratings

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THE GIFT

Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Classics | Release Date: December 20, 2000

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Katie Holmes, Keanu Reeves

Summary: A haunting psychological thriller, The Gift is ultimately a profound celebration of the human spirit. (Paramount Classics)

Director: Sam Raimi

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 111 min

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Awards & Rankings

49	#49 Most Shared Movie of 2000

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Critic Reviews

Wall Street Journal - Joe Morgenstern

When movie lovers are looking back on the best of 2001, they will still be marveling at the beauty, intelligence and seemingly effortless mastery of Ms. Blanchett's performance.

Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

The Gift delivers the lurid goods as a scary, sexy, twist-a-minute whodunit. Read full review

Chicago Tribune - Michael Wilmington

For all its craft and achievement, The Gift -- which has a script that may have needed more rewriting and deepening -- is a good, minor effort; it has some real conviction, even anguish. And it has Blanchett, whose gift as an actress is sometimes transcendent.

USA Today - Mike Clark

Tolerance for this movie will likely depend on tolerance for melodramatic, over-the-top finales, especially ones with otherworldly twists. Read full review

Village Voice - J. Hoberman

A creepily effective button-pusher that owes a bit to the original "Cape Fear" both in Sam Raimi's ruthless direction and Keanu Reeves's unexpectedly robust performance as the most violent redneck peckerwood in a steamy Georgia town. Read full review

Baltimore Sun - Chris Kaltenbach

Outside of a strong (and largely misused) cast and an abundance of moody atmosphere, there's precious little to recommend this exploitative mess.

Washington Post - Curt Fields

So chock-full of stereotypes as to be a filmic Southern Country Safari. Read full review

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User Reviews

beeanadou

Nov 2, 2018

Some parts are slow paced and a little bit boring but overall quite captive and alluring. The picture is really beautiful and fantastic, alongside the natural acting.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JeremyW.

Sep 4, 2006

I found the story captivating, once it began rolling, although the Southern depravity was an appalling, if true-life-life, vehicle that at once repelled, and yet attracted sympathy. Giovanni Ribisi was my favorite character in the film. The plot was a little thin, but the cast really made I found the story captivating, once it began rolling, although the Southern depravity was an appalling, if true-life-life, vehicle that at once repelled, and yet attracted sympathy. Giovanni Ribisi was my favorite character in the film. The plot was a little thin, but the cast really made this film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BrianC.

Apr 23, 2004

The movie wasn't too bad, it was better than it was worse. I think we all know that the best part was seeing Katie Holmes naked. It was about time, thank you to Raimi.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MovieGuys

Jul 13, 2014

The Gift is engrossing, well-scripted, and beautifully shot until the final quarter. Then, the movie gets very movie-ish and preposterous with an unsatisfying ending. But the performances alone in this star-studded cast are what make this movie, especially Blanchett's emotionally movingThe Gift is engrossing, well-scripted, and beautifully shot until the final quarter. Then, the movie gets very movie-ish and preposterous with an unsatisfying ending. But the performances alone in this star-studded cast are what make this movie, especially Blanchett's emotionally moving portrayal of a woman secluded from society because of her psychic powers. Ultimately, I recommend seeing The Gift; it's a fine piece of filmmaking.… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

Spangle

May 6, 2016

Featuring a star-studded cast, Sam Raimi's The Gift cannot be classified as anything other than a disappointing effort. Raimi is at his very best here crafting a truly chilling atmosphere and carefully manufacturing each and every scare to maximum effect. The Gift can be a truly horrifyingFeaturing a star-studded cast, Sam Raimi's The Gift cannot be classified as anything other than a disappointing effort. Raimi is at his very best here crafting a truly chilling atmosphere and carefully manufacturing each and every scare to maximum effect. The Gift can be a truly horrifying experience at times and this has to be its strongest asset. The acting is also very strong, but of course it is with a cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi, Keanu Reeves, Katie Holmes, Greg Kinnear, Hilary Swank, JK Simmons, Gary Cole, and Kim Dickens. Everybody delivers here and this cast is more than worth your time. However, the film shoots itself in the face repeatedly at the end of the film. Featuring a predictable "twist" that anybody could see after 20 minutes into the film and a stupidly convenient ending that is also deeply sexist really make The Gift's ending feel more like a slap to the face than anything. Even worse, the film was effectively scary up to this point, even if it was incredibly conventional. Instead of being an acceptable thriller that adds very little to the genre, it is merely a disappointing effort from all involved that deserved far better writing and a less dumb ending.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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