X
  • 1991
  • Unrated
  • Zeitgeist Films
  • 1 h 25 m
  • 1991
  • Unrated
  • Zeitgeist Films
  • 1 h 25 m

Summary Inspired by the writings of Jean Genet, Poison deftly interweaves trio of transgressive tales-“Hero,” “Horror” and “Homo”-that build toward a devastating climax. “Hero,” shot in mock TV-documentary style, tells a bizarre story of suburban patricide and a miraculous flight from justice; “Horror,” filmed like a delirious ’50s B-movie melod...

Directed By: Todd Haynes

Written By: Jean Genet, Todd Haynes

  • 1991
  • Unrated
  • Zeitgeist Films
  • 1 h 25 m
  • 1991
  • Unrated
  • Zeitgeist Films
  • 1 h 25 m

Poison

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 18 Critic Reviews
67
User Score Mixed or Average Based on 7 User Ratings
5.1
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary Inspired by the writings of Jean Genet, Poison deftly interweaves trio of transgressive tales-“Hero,” “Horror” and “Homo”-that build toward a devastating climax. “Hero,” shot in mock TV-documentary style, tells a bizarre story of suburban patricide and a miraculous flight from justice; “Horror,” filmed like a delirious ’50s B-movie melod...

Directed By: Todd Haynes

Written By: Jean Genet, Todd Haynes

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Edith Meeks

Felicia Beacon (segment "Hero")

Larry Maxwell

Dr. Graves (segment "Horror")

Susan Norman

Nancy Olsen (segment "Horror")

Millie White

Millie Sklar (segment "Hero")

Buck Smith

Gregory Lazar (segment "Hero")

Anne Giotta

Evelyn McAlpert (segment "Hero")

Lydia Lafleur

Sylvia Manning (segment "Hero")

Ian Nemser

Sean White (segment "Hero")

Rob LaBelle

Jay Wete (segment "Hero")

Evan Dunsky

Dr. MacArthur (segment "Hero")

Marina Lutz

Hazel Lamprecht (segment "Hero")

Barry Cassidy

Officer Rilt (segment "Hero")

Richard Anthony

Edward Comacho (segment "Hero")

Angela M. Schreiber

Florence Giddens (segment "Hero")

Justin Silverstein

Jake (segment "Hero")

Chris Singh

Chris (segment "Hero")

Edward Allen

Fred Beacon (segment "Hero")

Carlos Jimenez

Jose (segment "Hero")

Al Quagliata

Deputy Hansen (segment "Horror")

Michelle Sullivan

Prostitute (segment "Horror")

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 18 Critic Reviews
67
67% Positive
12 Reviews
28% Mixed
5 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 18 Critic Reviews
67
67% Positive
12 Reviews
28% Mixed
5 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
89
The way the individual stories are intercut builds connections between the seemingly discrete tales such that they begin to converge in ways that were not readily apparent. Repeated viewings, I'm sure, would enhance the connections, so smartly are they conceived.
By Marjorie Baumgarten FULL REVIEW
88
Poison is at once disturbing and beautiful, a cereus blooming in the darkest of night. Uncompromising and heady with ambition, Haynes likes to make his audiences think. Poison succeeds in this goal, and increases in power the more you look back on it. Like the most potent movies, it creeps on you. [19 Apr 1991, p.41]
By Matthew Gilbert FULL REVIEW
75
Poison, low-budget but with all-human actors, is dark and funny and has something very powerful to say about society and how it applies irrational stigmas to those who do not conform to an often arbitrary status quo. [12 July 1991]
FULL REVIEW
67
Only one of the episodes, a satirical documentary about the mysterious disappearance of an enraged suburban boy, has much resonance on its own. A part of me wishes that Haynes had sold out after all: What’s truly revolutionary about this filmmaker — his perverse, ironic humanity — is only intermittently on display in this quasi-provocative formalist knickknack.
By Owen Gleiberman FULL REVIEW
63
Poison is better visually than verbally, though some dialogue in Episode 1 (a missing-kid parody called Hero) got hearty laughs from paying customers in my theater. What 'makes' this exercise, as far as it goes, is polished editing. [12 Apr 1991, p.2D]
By Mike Clark FULL REVIEW
60
Poison, which won the grand prize as the best fiction work at this year's Sundance Film Festival, is an imaginative film that, like the infectious Tom Graves, is eventually overwhelmed by its ambitions. The movie needs to evoke more than the ghost of Genet to give it resonance.
By Vincent Canby FULL REVIEW
20
The three stories do not make a whole in this disappointing arthouse film.
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 7 User Ratings
5.1
43% Positive
3 Ratings
14% Mixed
1 Rating
43% Negative
3 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 7 User Ratings
5.1
43% Positive
3 Ratings
14% Mixed
1 Rating
43% Negative
3 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

 View All
Production Company Bronze Eye Productions, Killer Films, Poison L.P.
Release Date Apr 5, 1991
Duration 1 h 25 m
Rating Unrated
Genres
View All Details

Awards

Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Fantasporto
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Film Independent Spirit Awards
• 2 Nominations

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