| Director | Brian De Palma, Iksan Lahardi, Jimmy Shaw, Lee Tso-Nam |
|---|---|
| Genre | drama film, fantasy film, film based on a novel, horror film, mystery film, neo-noir, psychological drama film, psychological horror film, psychological thriller film, science fiction film, science fiction horror film, supernatural horror film, suspense film, thriller film |
| Runtime | 118 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $7.5 million |
| Box office | $24 million |
In Israel, ex-government agent Peter Sandza and his psychic son Robin meet Ben Childress, Peter's old agency colleague. Sandza plans to leave his old life and return to the United States with his son, but Childress objects and subsequently stages a terrorist attack to cover up kidnapping Robin for his “protection”. Peter narrowly survives, maiming Childress in the attempt and escaping while heavily injured, but is unable to protect Robin.
Months later in Chicago, high-school student Gillian Bellaver discovers her psychic powers, including telekinesis and extra-sensory perception, during an in-class demonstration. The uncontrolled manifestations of these powers harm people who physically touch or provoke her. She volunteers to attend the Paragon Institute, a live-in research facility studying psychic powers in adolescents.
Meanwhile, Peter has tracked Robin to Chicago. After evading Childress' agents, Peter meets with his girlfriend Hester, a Paragon nurse, who tells him about Gillian. Peter tells Gillian that Paragon's director is cooperating with PSI, a covert agency led by Childress that kidnaps psychic children to weaponize their powers for the American government, managing and controlling the psychics by brainwashing them and eliminating their families.
As Gillian's psychic prowess grows, she begins experiencing visions of the Institute abusing Robin, who has unsuccessfully attempted escape, and eventually connects to him telepathically. The Paragon's director, Dr, Jim McKeever is accidently hurt by Gillian after which he wants to cut her loose. Once Childress becomes aware of Gillian's abilities, he counters McKeever's decision. Knowing that she knows too much and that her telekinetic powers are growing, Childress orders that Gillian be immediately transported to PSI headquarters where Robin is being kept. Hester overhears Childress's conversation and informs Peter, who plans a rescue, hoping she can lead him to Robin.
The rescue is successful, but Hester is killed in the process. Gillian uses her powers to assist Peter in tracking Robin down to a remote mansion in the countryside, where Childress and his handler Susan have spent the last several months grooming and experimenting on him. Though Robin's abilities have grown to unprecedented levels, he gradually becomes increasingly unstable from the psychological strain of his superiors' machinations. While at the amusement park in Old Chicago, Robin suspects a group of Middle Eastern men of being part of the terrorist attack that separated him from his father, and he uses his powers to kill them by sabotaging their ride.
As Peter and Gillian infiltrate the mansion, Robin senses Gillian's presence. Believing that PSI intends to kill him and replace him with Gillian, he snaps, telekinetically torturing and killing Susan. Peter confronts his son, but Robin, now psychotic, furiously attacks him. Robin is thrown out of the window and scratches Peter when he tries to save him from falling. When Robin plunges to the ground, a distraught Peter flings himself after his son, killing himself.
Before Robin dies, he seems to make psychic contact with Gillian and transfers his refined powers to her, implying that she will save herself from Childress and avenge his death. The next morning, Childress tries to ingratiate himself with Gillian. Understanding his long-term intentions, Gillian embraces her psychic abilities and avenges the deaths of Robin and Peter by causing Childress' body to explode.