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Poison

Play trailer Poster for Poison 1991,  1h 26m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 83% 23 Reviews Tomatometer 68% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Three stories: "Hero," about a boy who kills his father; "Horror," black-and-white sci-fi; and "Homo," set in prison.
Poison

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Tinged with claustrophobic and quirky horror, Poison is a decently dirty debut for director Todd Haynes.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Nov 9, 2010
I could have done without the designer prison, but most of the other stylistic conceits work. Go to Full Review
Rob Nelson Village Voice Nov 9, 2010
Arguably the strongest American debut feature of the '90s. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
Todd Haynes' Poison is a conceptually bold, stylistically audacious first feature, a compelling study of different forms of deviance. Go to Full Review
Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) May 9, 2023
2.5/4
Todd Haynes has talent. The failures of his film are those of a director reaching high above the usual Hollywood product. And I would unhesitatingly declare him an artist if only on the basis of Poison's opening sequence. Go to Full Review
Michael Bronski Gay Community News (Boston) Sep 8, 2022
Haynes is able to able to actually subvert the science fiction/horror genre—at worst socially conservative, at best a sympathetic cautionary tale. Go to Full Review
David Ehrenstein The Advocate Apr 5, 2022
Haynes demonstrates an understanding of Genet’s centrality to gay culture while suggesting ways that Genet’s works can be used as a tool for exploring personal and political awareness. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Kylo R Aug 13, 2007 Todd Haynes first full length feature contains three very different stories that STILL work together as a whole. The story about the bullied and abused boy who shoots his father to save his mother and then flies away is my favorite of the three stories. the spitting scene in the Jean Genet story is incredibly effective while making you want to puke at the same time. When I first saw this film, I said to myself, "This director is a true original that has genius within him. A genius that he hasn't even begun to tap into." I was right. Mr. Haynes has given us some remarkable films. See more
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Poison

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Todd Haynes

Director

Edith Meeks

Felicia Beacon

Larry Maxwell

Dr. Graves

Scott Renderer

John Broom

Millie White

Millie Sklar

Buck Smith

Gregory Lazar

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Poison

Poison (1991) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Three stories: "Hero," about a boy who kills his father; "Horror," black-and-white sci-fi; and "Homo," set in prison.
Director
Todd Haynes
Producer
Christine Vachon
Screenwriter
Jean Genet
Production Co
Killer Films, Bronze Eye Productions, Poison L.P.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 13, 2017
Runtime
1h 26m
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