Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- sinister
- lurid
- provocative
- cult movie night
- 1990s thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed Poison Ivy as a polished but unpleasant and predictable erotic thriller whose provocative melodrama is undermined by sordid undertones and weakly calibrated performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ivy enters Sylvie Cooper's family life, wins trust, and methodically inserts herself into the marriage.
Ivy's pursuit of Darryl exploits the family's vulnerabilities and centers an older man-younger woman dynamic.
The film combines illness, seduction, staged accidents, suicide imagery, and murder within a suburban family drama.
Critics specifically noted that the plot is predictable and viewers remain far ahead of the characters as Ivy's scheme unfolds.
Films like Poison Ivy, and why
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
shared erotic thriller framework, manipulative outsider, and domestic corruption
The Crush
shared teen psychodrama, sexual manipulation, and dangerous obsession
Unlawful Entry
shared neo-noir erotic tension, family disruption, and sordid melodrama
Wild Things
shared provocative teen sexuality, transgression, and heightened psychological drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Katt Shea
- Release Date
- 1992-05-08
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (417)
Cast
- Drew Barrymore
- Tom Skerritt
- Sara Gilbert
- Cheryl Ladd
- Alan Stock
- Jeanne Sakata
- E.J. Moore
- J.B. Quon
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Michael Goldner
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Poison Ivy about?
- A seductive teenage drifter infiltrates a fragile family and turns its suburban refuge into a pressure cooker of obsession, betrayal, and danger.
- What is Poison Ivy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Poison Ivy as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Poison Ivy violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Poison Ivy as moderate.
- What did critics think of Poison Ivy?
- Critics broadly viewed Poison Ivy as a polished but unpleasant and predictable erotic thriller whose provocative melodrama is undermined by sordid undertones and weakly calibrated performances.
- Which films are like Poison Ivy?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The Crush, Unlawful Entry, and Wild Things.
- How long is Poison Ivy?
- Poison Ivy runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Poison Ivy?
- In United States, Poison Ivy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store.
