Poison [Blu-ray]

Director: Todd Haynes Todd Haynes

Overview

Todd Haynes' feature debut is structured around three interlocking vignettes. In the AIDS allegory "Horror," filmed in the style of 1950's science fiction B-movies, a scientist (Larry Maxwell) distills the human sex drive into liquid form; in "Hero," told in the documentary style of a tabloid-television report, the exploits of a seven-year-old boy who shoots his father and then flies away are recounted; and "Homo," based on the writings of Jean Genet, is an examination of the prison romance between two male prisoners.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/29/2021
UPC:	0738329254476
Original Release:	1991
Rating:	NR
Source:	Kino Lorber
Language:	English
Time:	1:25:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Edith Meeks	Felicia Beacon
Larry Maxwell	Dr. Graves
Scott Renderer	Broom
James Lyons	Bolton
Millie White	Millie
Susan Norman	Nancy
Tony Pemberton	Young Broom
Andrew Harpending	Young Bolton
Buck Smith	Gregory Lazar
Anne Giotta	Evelyn McAlpert
Lydia Lafleur	Sylvia Manning
Ian Nemser	Sean White
Evan Dunsky	Dr. MacArthur
Marina Lutz	Hazel Lamprecht
Barry Cassidy	Officer Rilt
Richard Anthony	Edward Comacho
Angela M. Schreiber	Florence Giddons
Justin Silverstein	Jake
Chris Singh	Chris
Edward Allen	Fred Beacon
Carlos Jimenez	Jose
Al Quagliata	Deputy Hansen
Michelle Sullivan	Prostitute
Parlan McGaw	Newscaster
Frank O'Donnell	Old Doctor
Joe Dietl	Woman in the Alley
Don Damico	1st Doctor/2nd Cop
Charles Cavalier	1st Cop
Kyle DeCamp	Neighbor
Aimee Scheff	Neighbor
Jessica	Nurse
Lorraine Traverson	Nurse
Phil W. Petrie	Doctor
John Nadeau	Doctor
Jim Cagnard	Bartender
Lauren Zalaznick	Waitress
Chris Henricks	Sleazy Man
Leah Mullen	Little Girl
Elyse Steinberg	Little Girl
Bruce Cook	Dr. Stick,Dr. Stick
Andrew Bishop	Child's Hands
Tom McCullough	Townsperson
Chava Tiger	Townsperson
Richard Hansen	Narrator
John R. Lombardi	Rass
Tony Gigante	Inspector
Douglas F. Gibson	Van Roven
Damien Garcia	Chanci
Les Simpson	Miss Tim
Joey Grant	Jamoke
Gary Ray	Canon
David Danford	Basco
Jason Bauer	Doran
Ken Schatz	Preacher
Maurice Clapisson	1st Guard
Matthew Ebert	2nd Guard,Guard 2
Marie-Francoise Vachon	Foster Mother
Michael Silverman	Foster Father
Shawn Wilson	Broom (age 6)
Nino Bau	Fontenal Inmate
Wayne Compton	Fontenal Inmate
Raymond Dragen	Fontenal Inmate
John Duffy	Fontenal Inmate
John McGhee	Fontenal Inmate
Michael Miranda	Fontenal Inmate
Anthony Rubustillo	Fontenal Inmate
Jonathan Smit	Fontenal Inmate
Oscar Tevez	Fontenal Inmate
Gideon Joslyn Brown	Baton Inmate
John Connolly	Baton Inmate,Baton Inmate
Eric Cubano	Banton Inmate
Dani Michaeli	Banton Inmate
Oliviah Crawford	Actor
Israel Sáez de Miguel	Actor
Christian Levatino	Actor
Chuck Kelley	Actor
Exie Booker	Actor
Rob La Belle	Jay Wete
Richard Hansen	Narration
Anthony Ribustello	Fontenal Inmate
Silvio Oliviero	Fontenal Inmate
James Bennett	Composer

Technical Credits

Todd Haynes

Todd Haynes	Director,Screenwriter
Christine Vachon	Producer
Brian Greenbaum	Executive Producer,Producer
James Schamus	Executive Producer,Producer
Gary Breslin	Director
Denny Vachlioti	Producer

Editorial Reviews

This arresting feature debut from the always interesting Todd Haynes explores human differences and alienation in the form of three seamlessly interweaved storylines. As in Dottie Gets Spanked and Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, Haynes draws from familiar cinematic genres and devices to tell his distinct and bizarre tales. Genuinely subversive, even if its parts are sometimes greater than the whole, this film feels like the truest form of independent cinema -- endlessly inventive despite its low budget. Based in part on the writings of Jean Genet, the film is at times peculiar and difficult to follow, but worth sticking with, if only for its striking originality. Poison was partly funded by the NEA, a fact that stirred up controversy when the film was eventually released with an NC-17 rating due to a shot of an erect penis. Many have speculated that it was the film's gay context -- not just one "obscene" shot -- that was under attack by anti-NEA forces.