Poison (1991) movie poster

Poison

1991 ·1h 25m · ★ 5.9 (90)

A trio of interweaved transgressive tales, telling a bizarre stories of suburban patricide and a miraculous flight from justice, a mad sex experiment which unleashes a disfiguring plague, and the obsessive sexual relationship between two prison inmates.

Why it matters

A daring triptych of transgressive horror that confronts suburban decay, contagion, and carceral obsession with uncompromising weirdness.

  • Boldly disrupts narrative norms with three interwoven tales that blur genre lines—body horror, psychological terror, and social grotesque collide.
  • Unapologetically raw and provocative, reflecting early ’90s anxieties around sexuality, disease, and institutional power.
  • Not for the faint of heart or casual viewers—its abrasive style and heavy themes demand full attention and an appetite for discomfort.
  • Cult appeal lies in its fearless experimentation and moments of striking imagery, making it a must-see for fans of boundary-pushing underground horror.

Horror DNA

Gore
28
Slow Burn
66
Psychological
100
Supernatural
0
Creature
36
Disturbing
100
Fun Factor
0
Cerebral
99
Survival
0

Setting

Prison

Content Warnings

Sexual ViolenceTaboo ContentBody HorrorDehumanization

Phobia triggers

NeedlesFlashing Lights

TMDB Keywords

1980sdiseasedomestic abusehiv/aids epidemiclgbtlovemurderpoetrypunishmentqueer allegoryscientistsexual abusesexuality

Pairs Well With