20s Movie Review - Poison

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 17 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes
Description: When a poisonous snake slithers onto an Englishman's (Benedict Cumberbatch) stomach in India, his associate (Dev Patel) and a doctor (Ben Kinglsey) race to save him.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 36: A FILM WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
 
Review: “Poison” is a short film by Wes Anderson and an adaptation of a short story by Roald Dahl. We follow Harry Woods, who is lying in bed with a snake on his stomach. His associate and doctor are the ones that need to save him.

“Poison” has the signature Anderson aesthetic and masterful cinematography that we got to know from him. It’s a suspenseful adaptation, with a strong focus in the claustrophobic feel. And Benedict Cumberbatch’s intense and powerful performance makes you feel this even more. Because his characters needs to lay still almost the entire runtime, all he can use is his voice and facial expressions.

Anderson is known for his unique visual style, with an eye for detail and color. This short film ins no different. The explanatory narrative style, done by Dev Patel here, might reduce the tension a bit and might be a bit too much at times. But it does fit Anderson’s style.

“Poison” is a strong example of Wes Anderson’s ability to film the oppression and political undertones of a story, resulting in a visually stunning and suspenseful short film. Fans of his work will appreciate it.

Rating: 4/ 5