Poison
1991 · Movie · NC-17 · 85 min · ★ 5.9 · 72% critics
Poison weaves three separate, transgressive tales that jump between startling tones and perspectives. One story follows suburban unrest and a puzzling “flight from justice,” another centers on a wild sex experiment that triggers a horrifying plague, and the final tale focuses on an obsessive relationship between two inmates.
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Watch free on Kanopy and Hoopla — also streaming on The Criterion Channel.
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Details
- Years
- 1991
- Release date
- 1991-04-05
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NC-17
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Critic score
- 72/100
- TMDB rating
- 5.9/10 (91 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy Poison if you want provocative, surreal storytelling with constantly shifting moods and no clear linear path; Not for you if you need straightforward explanations or prefer more conventional horror, and if you dislike similar titles like The Hunger or Climax.
Pros: bold, provocative storytelling; striking mood shifts; distinct segments | Cons: jumps without clear explanations; scattered feeling; can be boring
Themes
- prison
- sexual abuse
- sexuality
- poetry
- punishment
- love
- murder
- domestic abuse
- disease
- scientist
- lgbt
- 1980s
- +2 more
Awards & recognition
- Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award · 1991
- Teddy Award · 1991
Cast & crew
Edith Meeks
as Felicia Beacon ("Hero")
- MW
Millie White
as Millie Sklar ("Hero")
- BS
Buck Smith
as Gregory Lazar ("Hero")
- AG
Anne Giotta
as Evelyn McAlpert ("Hero")
- LL
Lydia Lafleur
as Sylvia Manning ("Hero")
- IN
Ian Nemser
as Sean White ("Hero")
Rob LaBelle
as Jay Wete ("Hero")
Evan Dunsky
as Dr. MacArthur ("Hero")
- ML
Marina Lutz
as Hazel Lamprecht ("Hero")
- BC
Barry Cassidy
as Officer Rilt ("Hero")
Directed by Todd Haynes