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Poison
2023 17 min United States of America PG 6+
★7.3
Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Director: Wes Anderson
🎭 Based on
«Poison»
byRoald Dahl
Trailers
Description
When a poisonous snake slithers onto an Englishman's stomach in India, his associate and a doctor race to save him.
Starring
Dev Patel
Actor
Benedict Cumberbatch
Actor
Ralph Fiennes
Actor
Awards
1 win & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl's 'Poison' is widely regarded as a precise and incisive short film that utilizes distinct visual storytelling. The performances and thematic focus on colonial dynamics and internal prejudice elevate the source material into a compelling, albeit tense, character study.
| Direction | Wes Anderson employs a signature visual style and unique narration that effectively heightens the film's suspense. | |
| Acting | The performances from Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, and Ben Kingsley create a strong, nuanced interplay of panic, energy, and composure. | |
| Theme | The snake functions as a potent, multi-layered metaphor for both internal character decay and the broader tensions of colonial-era racism. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative's focus on the characters' inaction and the doctor's eventual revelation creates a sense of profound discomfort and moral clarity. | |
| Ending | The conclusion of the story leaves viewers with a sense of limitation, sparking debate over whether the resolution fully pays off the preceding tension. |