Poison Ivy (1992 film)
| Poison Ivy | |
|---|---|
 Poison Ivy film poster | |
| Directed by | Katt Shea |
| Written by | Melissa Goddard (story) Andy Ruben (screenplay) |
| Produced by | Andy Ruben |
| Starring | Drew Barrymore Sara Gilbert Tom Skerritt Cheryl Ladd |
| Cinematography | Phedon Papamichael |
| Edited by | Gina Mittelman |
| Music by | David Michael Frank |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release dates | May 8, 1992 (USA) |
Running time | 93 min. (unrated version) |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3,000,000, (estimated) |
Poison Ivy is a 1992 erotic thriller and drama film directed by Katt Shea. Andy Ruben (who also produced the film) transformed Melissa Goddard's story into the screenplay. It stars Drew Barrymore, Sara Gilbert, Tom Skerritt and Cheryl Ladd. The original music score is composed by David Michael Frank. This film was shot in Los Angeles, California.
It was nominated for the 1992 Grand Jury prize of Best Film at the Sundance Festival. Sara Gilbert was nominated for Best Supporting Female at the 1993 Independent Spirit Awards.
Although it did not fare well at the box office with its limited release, it did become a success on cable and video. The film has spawned two sequels and is marketed with the tagline "What Ivy wants, Ivy gets."
Plot summary
Set in Seattle, Washington, this film follows the lives of a wealthy but dysfunctional American family. Sylvie Cooper (Gilbert) is a misanthropic student at a private high school for the privileged. She befriends Ivy (Barrymore), a poor but intelligent and seductive girl attending the school on a scholarship. Sylvie thinks Ivy is sweet but very different and they became best friends. But Sylvie has no idea that Ivy has cruel intentions for the family. Sylvie's family adopts Ivy and Ivy soon seduces Sylvie's father (Skerritt), a TV producer. Ivy also plots to kill Sylvie's ailing mother (Ladd) to take over the family house. Similar themes are used in the films American Beauty and Lolita.
Main cast
- Sara Gilbert - Sylvie Cooper
- Drew Barrymore - Ivy
- Tom Skerritt - Darryl Cooper
- Cheryl Ladd - Georgie Cooper
- Alan Stock - Bob
- Jeanne Sakata - Isabelle
- Leonardo DiCaprio - Guy
