Pretty Poison
Posted by martinteller on August 20, 2008
One of a pair of “mystery movies” from my library queue tonight. Can’t remember where I heard of it or why I wanted to see it, but I’m glad I did. Anthony Perkins is Dennis Pitt: a slightly disturbed dreamer, just out of the institution for an arson he committed in his youth. He seduces high school majorette Sue Ann (Tuesday Weld) by pretending to be a CIA agent, but things go haywire with a quickness. I don’t want to give anything away, but the turn of events is quite well plotted out and develops in interesting directions. The film also has a French New Wave aura to it at times, with the quick flashbacks and characters pretending to be something else… I definitely felt a Band of Outsiders meets Shoot the Piano Player vibe. Weld and Perkins are playing much younger than their actual ages, and it shows, but otherwise their performances are solid. Very intriguing little cult film. Rating: 8
