Rarely do I hear an audible gasp from people in a movie theater. But not only did I hear one, but two, audible gasps from the screening audience in reaction to plot twists in “Widows,” the intricately plotted, intensely compelling film starring Viola Davis.

Based on a novel by Lynda La Plante, the script is written by Gillian Flynn (author of “Gone Girl”) and director Steve McQueen. So you would expect story twists and this movie delivers. Set in Chicago, Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson) is a professional thief who meticulously charts out his capers. He and his 3 cohorts in crime stage a job that goes wrong. In the end, they are shot by police and then incinerated when the garage explodes.

In another story arc, Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrelll) meets with his opponent, Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry), who is running for the same position as alderman. He offers a deal to get Jamal to drop out of the race, but is turned down.

Jack is the son of political legend Tom Mulligan (Robert Duvall) and to say that they do not see eye-to-eye is an understatement. Tom is in ill health but still highly opinionated on how a campaign should be run.

The now deceased thieves had stolen 2 million dollars from the campaign coffers of Jamal. So now he targets Harry’s wife, Veronica (Viola Davis), for repayment. Jamal gives her a deadline to give him the money or else. His brother Jatemme (Daniel Kaluuya) is his quiet but frightening enforcer.

Veronica does not have that kind of money. But she does have Harry’s notebook in which he planned out all of his thefts. Inside is the outline of a job involving 5 million dollars which he had not yet carried out.

Accompanied by her ever-present dog, a white Westie who figures in one of the plot twists, she goes to two of the other widows, Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Alice (Elizabeth Debicki). She threatens to reveal their names to Jamal if they do not help her commit the crime. They would each split the three million extra after they pay Jamal.

After they reluctantly agree, Veronica assigns them each tasks to carry out. But this is not some light-hearted affair. These women, while determined, are learning everything on the fly and there are missteps as well as successes. Underlying every action is the fear of failing and facing Jamal as well as the hope of a better life with the money from the heist.

Linda ran a store that was repossessed because her dead husband had gambling debts which she cannot pay. Elizabeth is encouraged by her mother Agnieska (Jacki Weaver) to become a professional escort. Reluctant at first, Elizabeth ends up meeting and hooking up with David (Lukas Haas), a rich client who helps her out with one of her tasks.

Things get complicated when Veronica’s driver Bash (Garret Dillahunt), who was to be the getaway driver, is murdered by Jatemme and his enforcers to send a message to Veronica to hurry up with the delivery of the money. Linda recruits her babysitter Belle (Cynthia Erivo) to be the driver. Belle is as tough as they come and is ready to rock and roll.

The beauty of the film is the way that these different stories eventually interweave in a very organic, believable way. This a gritty film with characters struggling to find their way and dealing with the harsh realities of life. Moral ambiguity is the order of the day as each person makes choices and compromises to fit their unique situation.

The plot developments are so good that I never felt bored during the entire movie. As each scene unfolded, you just waited for another piece of the puzzle to fall into place. When this did not happen, you often got more insight into a particular character.

Viola Davis continues to amaze in her nuanced performance as Veronica. She never strikes a false note in her portrayal. Whether it is the sadness of loss or the tenacity to survive at all costs, she is able with facial gestures and body posture to accomplish what other actors need dialogue to do.

Elizabeth Debicki is another highlight. Her character Alice was abused by her previous husband Florek (Jon Bernthal). Debicki effortlessly displays both the fragility and inner resourcefulness of Alice. Watching her grow as she interacts with her mother, David and her partners-in-crime is a delight.

Colin Farrell as Jack Mulligan does a great job portraying the world-weariness of his character. His often foul-mouthed dialogue is beautifully written to show someone who has inherited his father’s world but wants none of it. This is a worthy follow-up to his underrated performance as the foil to Denzel Washington in “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”

Yet noting these particular performances does not negate the contribution of other characters to this film. Daniel Kaluuya’s Jatemme oozes menace just by his presence. Robert Duvall in his few scenes with Farrell is in prime form as he spews invective and advice. Cynthia Erivo takes her character Belle from being on the periphery of the story to an integral part of the crime with ease and aplomb.

When I heard the description of the film, viz. widows coming together to pull off a crime to pay off their husband’s debts, I admit that I allowed myself to be misled. The impression which I got was that this movie would be a standard crime caper. Nothing could be further from the truth. While this story does involve a crime, this is truly a series of character studies with the crime serving as the backdrop. So don’t go into this expecting to see “Ocean’s 8.”

If I have one complaint, it is that the ending struck me flat. To be fair, though, perhaps this is more of a case of having your adrenaline amped up and then, when the action is over, having to face the mundanity of everyday life that follows. You can be the judge when you watch the film.

I give the film four and and a half out of 5 stars, but I give Viola Davis’ tour de force performance 5 out of 5 stars and an Oscar nomination.

STARRING: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Garret Dillahunt, Carrie Coon, Jacki Weaver, Jon Bernthal, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo with Robert Duvall and Liam Neeson

DIRECTED BY: Steve McQueen

SCREENPLAY BY: Gillian Flynn & Steve McQueen. Based on “Widows” by Lynda La Plante