MovieChat Forums > Poison (1991) Discussion > Absolutely dreadful

Absolutely dreadful

posted 12 years ago by ddmaingot
2 replies | jump to latest

My partner and I had read about this film having a screenign (which was last night). A theater here in town shows a free film related to LGBT issues and interests as part of a year long celebration of the annual week long "Damn These Heels Film Festival," and last night it was this mess. I found the stories wildly unrepeatable, the character unsympathetic, and aesthetically, UI was repulsed by much of the film. so much so, that I was rather taken out of it. Having heard so many wonderful things about the importance of this film to modern queer cinema, I was excited to have the opportunity to see it. I was disappointed and couldn't wait for it to be over. I don't think a second viewing would to anything to change my mind either.

[–] Benedict_Cumberbatch 12 years ago

I think it's absolutely fascinating. I'd say you to at least give it another try - up to you, of course.

"Live on, love all, and let live" - River Phoenix.

[–] TheWanderingFish 11 years ago

I can understand the rest of your criticism, but what was your problem with the aesthetics?

I personally really appreciated the stylistic variations between the three segments. You have the low budget black-and-white 60s horror style (complete with slightly distorted/muted audio) of the "Sex Potion" segment to the faux TV documentary style of the "Hero" section to the highly artificial style of the prison segment (with the scenes of the prisoners as younger men reminding me of Schrader's Mishima.)

In other words, each segment has its own unique aesthetic, but each of the episodes is fully formed and appealing in its own right (Haynes has since shown himself to be a master of this sort of stylistic pastiche.)

I suppose on a clear day you can see the class struggle from here