Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Poison Ivy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 18, 2019

Trying to shed her image of youthful innocence shaped in films such as “E.T.” and “Babes in Toyland,” Drew Barrymore entered the 1990s on a personal crusade to show Hollywood just how much she’s aged. For 1992’s “Poison Ivy,” Barrymore tries jailbait seductress on for size, participating in a sensual chiller from the helmer of “Stripped to Kill.” Mercifully, there’s more going on in “Poison Ivy” than simple acts of thrusting, with co- writer/director Katt Shea fighting the potential salaciousness of the plot, trying to dig deeper into character psychology and moody gamesmanship. Shea almost gets there with her noticeable effort, but the feature’s Skinemax absurdities tend to overwhelm whatever grit manages to find its way to the screen.

Sylvie (Sara Gilbert) is a teenager ashamed of the wealth her father, television personality Darryl (Tom Skerritt), provides, trying to make sense of the world as an outcast. One day, Sylvie meets Ivy (Drew Barrymore), a mysterious classmate who instantly takes to her new friend’s hospitality, basically moving into the household, welcomed by Sylvie’s sickly mother, Georgie (Cheryl Ladd). While their bond develops, Sylvie grows aware that Ivy’s intentions for their union aren’t always pure, slipping into Georgie’s role as she seduces Darryl, who permits his depression to cloud his good judgment.

While “Poison Ivy” begins as a typical teen drama, it doesn’t take long for Shea to begin nudging the material into darker directions, with Sylvie’s loneliness and embarrassment making her an easy target for Ivy and her secretive takeover. The picture follows the development of their relationship, with confessions and tattoos keeping them together through thick and thin, but it soon becomes clear that Ivy is after something more with the household. The move to a more traditional thriller takes command in the third act, but the first hour of “Poison Ivy” delves into interesting topics such as sexual identity, parental abandonment, and friendship, with Shea adding details to personalities before she’s locked into a forgettable finale. Even Darryl is presented with a perspective, finding the undersexed dad frustrated with aging and pained by TMJ, giving adequate motivation to his dismissal of common sense.

“Poison Ivy” is presented in two versions: a Theatrical Cut (91:48) and an Unrated Cut (94:07).

Poison Ivy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't appear to be a recent scan of "Poison Ivy," showcasing some age-related fatigue. It's a very colorful movie, with Shea aiming to create moods with filters and costuming, making sure to emphasize red as much as possible (from coats to cars), while a cooler blue is deployed during household adventures at night. Primaries are satisfactory but lack true snap, delivering the basics. Skintones have a slight reddish push at times, but mostly stay within the realm of normal. Detail isn't strong, but skin surfaces are notable, surveying tattoos and sexual conquests. Clothing offers some texture, doing best with rougher fabrics. Delineation is adequate. Grain is heavy with some blockiness at times. The Unrated Cut of "Poison Ivy" features upscaled SD inserts of deleted footage, and the transitions are noticeable but brief (and a little odd, with one scene simply tracking Sylvie's run through the bowels of a hospital).

Poison Ivy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is forceful, with a louder presence to best accentuate dialogue exchanges, which keep their nuance. Performances are simple to track, never slipping into distortion. The jazzy score is defined, with appealing instrumentation, supporting seductive moments and surges of suspense. Atmospherics are acceptable, finding rainfall most pronounced, generating required climatic chaos.

Poison Ivy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features co-writer/director Katt Shea.

• Theatrical Trailer #1 (2:05, SD) and Theatrical Trailer #2 (2:34, SD) are included.

Poison Ivy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Poison Ivy" presents fine performances for this type of entertainment, with Barrymore a standout as the enigmatic vixen, giving the title role some needed emphasis. Shea amplifies the mood with a hot sax score and music video lighting, but once the picture slips into rubbing and grinding, atmosphere is lost, with "Poison Ivy" being the rare B-movie that doesn't benefit when it indulges carnal activity, always more compelling as a study of manipulation and confusion during the warped years of adolescence.