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Change isn't easy. Although circumstances might encourage us or force us to do so, we tend to return to the things and behaviors we're used to, as our comfort zone, and the cycles repeat over and over. That is the situation in which the lead characters of this film find themselves; unable to change, returning to familiar tendencies, repeating cycles over and over.
Pretty Poison follows Dennis Pitt (Anthony Perkins), a paranoid man who hasn't really changed much after being recently released from a mental institution. This leads him to become involved with Sue Ann (Tuesday Weld), a high school teenager after telling her he's a secret agent on a mission, something that leads to all sorts of mayhem.
I don't think I had heard of this film before, but when a friend invited me to his podcast to talk about it, I jumped at the chance mostly because of Perkins. As a huge fan of his performance in Psycho, I always look forward to watch more stuff he did during those years, and this one sounded right up my alley. After watching it a couple of nights ago, I can say I wasn't wrong.
The main thing about the film is the relationship between Dennis and Sue Ann. This can obviously be seen as problematic, with her being a teenager, but the truth is that we're not meant to empathize with Dennis and his behavior. His character is deeply troubled, unable to change, while Sue Ann is dealing with her own issues mostly coming from a strict and abusive mother (Beverly Garland).
The way these two characters connect and how their dynamic changes is the most interesting part of the film, and both Perkins and Weld play it perfectly. The direction from Noel Black is not particularly flashy, but it's effective with some clever uses of wide shots and zooms to highlight the different angles of paranoia and voyeurism present in all the characters.
Anthony Perkins will always be known for his role of Norman Bates, deservedly so. It is an iconic performance in an iconic film. However, there's so much to him than just Psycho. I've only seen a handful of his films, but his performances usually uncover a certain vulnerability that not every actor can transmit. His Norman Bates is dangerous but vulnerable. Here, he is also dangerous but vulnerable. He hasn't changed much, but who does?
Grade:
PRETTY POISON
(1968, Black)
(1968, Black)
"You haven't changed much, Dennis"
"Who does?"
"Who does?"
Change isn't easy. Although circumstances might encourage us or force us to do so, we tend to return to the things and behaviors we're used to, as our comfort zone, and the cycles repeat over and over. That is the situation in which the lead characters of this film find themselves; unable to change, returning to familiar tendencies, repeating cycles over and over.
Pretty Poison follows Dennis Pitt (Anthony Perkins), a paranoid man who hasn't really changed much after being recently released from a mental institution. This leads him to become involved with Sue Ann (Tuesday Weld), a high school teenager after telling her he's a secret agent on a mission, something that leads to all sorts of mayhem.
I don't think I had heard of this film before, but when a friend invited me to his podcast to talk about it, I jumped at the chance mostly because of Perkins. As a huge fan of his performance in Psycho, I always look forward to watch more stuff he did during those years, and this one sounded right up my alley. After watching it a couple of nights ago, I can say I wasn't wrong.
The main thing about the film is the relationship between Dennis and Sue Ann. This can obviously be seen as problematic, with her being a teenager, but the truth is that we're not meant to empathize with Dennis and his behavior. His character is deeply troubled, unable to change, while Sue Ann is dealing with her own issues mostly coming from a strict and abusive mother (Beverly Garland).
The way these two characters connect and how their dynamic changes is the most interesting part of the film, and both Perkins and Weld play it perfectly. The direction from Noel Black is not particularly flashy, but it's effective with some clever uses of wide shots and zooms to highlight the different angles of paranoia and voyeurism present in all the characters.
Anthony Perkins will always be known for his role of Norman Bates, deservedly so. It is an iconic performance in an iconic film. However, there's so much to him than just Psycho. I've only seen a handful of his films, but his performances usually uncover a certain vulnerability that not every actor can transmit. His Norman Bates is dangerous but vulnerable. Here, he is also dangerous but vulnerable. He hasn't changed much, but who does?
Grade: