You probably know Keanu Reeves as the internet's boyfriend. He’s the guy who stays late to help crew members, the Zen master of the John Wick universe, and the legendary Neo. He’s basically the human equivalent of a warm hug. But back in 2000, Sam Raimi—the mastermind behind Evil Dead—decided to take that "good guy" energy and set it on fire.
In the southern gothic thriller keanu reeves the gift, we don't get the hero. We get Donnie Barksdale.
Donnie is a nightmare. He’s a wife-beating, truck-driving, Confederate-flag-waving bigot who spends most of his screen time screaming at Cate Blanchett. It’s a jarring, visceral performance that most fans have either forgotten or never saw in the first place. Honestly, if you only know Keanu from his modern "breathtaking" era, seeing him drag Hilary Swank across a room by her hair is going to feel like a glitch in the Matrix.
The Role That Broke the Keanu Mold
By the turn of the millennium, Reeves was the biggest star on the planet. The Matrix had just rewritten the rules of action cinema. He could have played it safe. He could have spent a decade playing stoic, leather-clad saviors. Instead, he signed onto a $10 million indie-style mystery written by Billy Bob Thornton.
Why? Because of Cate Blanchett.
Keanu has gone on record saying he took the job primarily to work with her. In keanu reeves the gift, Blanchett plays Annie Wilson, a widow with psychic abilities living in Brixton, Georgia. She’s the town’s "card reader," a woman who sees things she shouldn’t. When Valerie Barksdale (played by a post-Oscar Boys Don't Cry Hilary Swank) comes to her for help with her abusive marriage, Annie tells her the truth: she needs to leave.
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Donnie doesn't take that well.
He stalks Annie. He threatens her kids. He calls her a witch. It’s one of the few times in his career where Keanu leans into pure, unadulterated villainy. There is no "cool" factor here. No gun-fu. Just a sweaty, bearded man with a short fuse and a lot of hate in his heart.
What People Get Wrong About Donnie Barksdale
Most people who revisit the film today assume Donnie is the killer. I mean, look at him. He’s the secondary antagonist, the loudest guy in the room, and he’s objectively a terrible person. The script even sets him up as the prime suspect when the local socialite, Jessica King (Katie Holmes), goes missing and her body is found on his property.
But the brilliance of the film—and Keanu's performance—is the nuance hidden under the redneck exterior.
In a weird way, Donnie is the most honest person in Brixton. During his trial, he doesn't lie about being a wife-beater. He doesn't hide his affair with Jessica. He’s a monster, but he’s a transparent one. While the "respectable" men of the town are hiding behind suits and school boards, Donnie is exactly who he says he is. Keanu plays him with a sort of pathetic, misguided sincerity that makes the character feel disturbingly real rather than a cartoon villain.
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The Sam Raimi Touch
It's kida wild to think this movie was directed by Sam Raimi. This was right before he jumped into the Spider-Man trilogy. You won’t find any chainsaws or "Groovy" one-liners here. Instead, Raimi uses the damp, moss-covered swamps of Georgia to create a feeling of constant dread.
The casting is stacked:
- Cate Blanchett as the psychic lead.
- Giovanni Ribisi as the mentally unstable Buddy Cole.
- Katie Holmes as the doomed socialite.
- Greg Kinnear as the "nice guy" principal.
- J.K. Simmons (with a cigar!) as the local sheriff.
And then there's Keanu. He had to wear brown contacts to hide his natural eye color because Raimi wanted him to look "off." He also spent time with domestic abuse counselors to understand the psychology of someone like Donnie. He wasn't just showing up for a paycheck; he was trying to inhabit a headspace that he admitted was "disturbing" to occupy.
He even struggled with the physical violence on set. During a scene where he had to hit Cate Blanchett, he was visibly hesitant. Blanchett, being a pro, basically told him to just go for it. That tension translates to the screen. Every time Donnie enters a room, the air leaves it.
Why It Didn't Explode at the Box Office
The movie did okay. It made about $44 million, but it wasn't a cultural phenomenon. Critics were split. Some loved the atmosphere; others thought the "psychic mystery" plot was a bit too close to a Twilight Zone episode.
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But looking back, keanu reeves the gift is a masterclass in "against-type" casting. We’re so used to seeing Keanu as the protector that seeing him as the predator is genuinely scary. It forces the audience to confront the idea that the "nicest man in Hollywood" could, with enough beard growth and a meaner sneer, become someone truly loathsome.
Is He Actually the Villain? (Spoilers)
If you haven't seen it, the ending is a gut punch. Annie realizes through her visions that Donnie—despite being a violent, racist jerk—is actually innocent of the murder.
He gets sent to prison because the town wants him to be guilty. He’s the easy scapegoat. The real killer is actually the "perfect" guy, Wayne Collins (Greg Kinnear). It’s a cynical, southern gothic twist: the man you hate is innocent of the crime, and the man you trust is the devil.
Keanu’s reaction when he’s arrested is incredible. He doesn't go out like a mastermind. He goes out screaming, accusing Annie of framing him. He’s a small, angry man who is being crushed by a system he doesn't understand.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going to dig this up on a streaming service tonight, keep an eye out for these details:
- The Sound Design: Listen for the sound of Donnie’s truck. Raimi treats it like the theme from Jaws. You hear it before you see him.
- The Eyes: Look at those brown contacts. They make Keanu’s gaze feel flat and soulless.
- The Trial Scene: Watch how Keanu shifts from aggressive to vulnerable. He realizes the town has turned on him, and for a split second, you almost feel a tiny bit of pity—before you remember he’s still a domestic abuser.
Basically, the film proves that Keanu’s range is way wider than people give him credit for. He isn't just an action star. He’s a guy who can hold his own against Cate Blanchett while playing a character that is the polar opposite of everything he actually stands for.
Next Steps:
Go track down a copy of the 2000 version (don't confuse it with the 2015 Joel Edgerton film). Watch it as a double feature with The Devil's Advocate to see Keanu's "dark side" era in full swing. If you've only seen him as John Wick, this is the essential palate cleanser to see what he’s really capable of as an actor.