Pretty Poison
Pretty Poison

Pretty Poison

1968Movie89 minEnglish

A troubled arsonist spins a tale of espionage to a captivating girl, who becomes enthralled and entangled in his dangerous fantasies, leading to unexpected murder and chaos that change their lives forever.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes88%
Director: Noel BlackGenres: Crime, Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

A disturbed, imaginative young man, recently released from a mental institution, becomes obsessed with a vapid, somewhat naive young woman. He concocts an elaborate fantasy involving murder and arson to impress her and win her affection. The situation escalates as their actions become increasingly dangerous and real, blurring the lines between fantasy and terrifying reality.

Critical Reception

Pretty Poison was a critical darling upon its release, praised for its dark humor, stylish direction, and the captivating performances of its lead actors. While it wasn't a box office smash, it gained a cult following over time for its unique blend of black comedy and psychological thriller elements, with many critics noting its ahead-of-its-time exploration of disturbed characters.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its dark, unsettling humor and stylish direction.
  • Anthony Perkins and Tuesday Weld deliver memorable, unsettling performances.
  • A unique and daring film that blends psychological thrills with black comedy.

Google audience: Audience reception data for Google reviews is not readily available, but critical acclaim suggests a positive reception for its daring themes and performances.

Fun Fact

Anthony Perkins, already famous for playing Norman Bates in 'Psycho', delivered another iconic performance as a disturbed character in 'Pretty Poison', further cementing his reputation for playing unsettling roles.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_A psychopath is loose in western Massachusetts_** When a young man is released from a mental institution for a crime committed when he was 15 (Anthony Perkins), he gets a mundane job at a chemical factory while drawn to a fetching hig...
John Chard

John Chard

The Pitt and the Poison. Pretty Poison is directed by Noel Black and adapted to screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Junior from the novel “She Let Him Continue” written by Stephen Geller. It stars Anthony Perkins, Tuesday Weld, Beverly Garland,...