Poison

The film Poison is made up of three separate stories that share a common thread of characters living outside society's norms. One follows a seven-year-old boy who flees after killing his violent father; another concerns a scientist who distils the libido into a liquid and, after accidentally consuming it, becomes a disfigured killer; the third centres on an obsessive relationship between two prison inmates. The three strands are partially inspired by the writings of Jean Genet, and the film has been described as one of the starting points of the New Queer Cinema movement.

Todd Haynes wrote and directed Poison, which was his first feature. It was produced by Christine Vachon through Bronze Eye Productions and runs 85 minutes. Edith Meeks, Millie White, Buck Smith, Anne Giotta, Lydia Lafleur and Ian Nemser appear in the cast, which numbers 82 credited performers. The film came out in April 1991 and precedes Haynes's later work, including Safe, Velvet Goldmine, Far from Heaven and Carol.

On TMDB the film holds a rating of 6 out of 10 from 97 votes, indicating a modest but persistent level of interest rather than broad popularity. Its mix of drama, horror and science fiction reflects the three-part structure, with the segments varying in tone and setting.