Poison Ivy (1992)

Poison Ivy is a 1992 thriller film directed by Katt Shea and starring Drew Barrymore, Sara Gilbert, and Tom Skerritt. The film tells the story of a troubled teenage girl named Ivy (Barrymore) who befriends a wealthy family and becomes increasingly manipulative and dangerous.

Ivy is a rebellious teenager who comes from a broken home and longs for a better life. She befriends Sylvie (Gilbert), a lonely girl from a wealthy family, and becomes obsessed with Sylvie’s father, Darryl (Skerritt). Ivy begins to manipulate and seduce Darryl, causing a rift between him and his wife, Georgie (Cheryl Ladd).

As Ivy’s manipulations become more extreme, Sylvie begins to see through her friend’s facade and attempts to expose her true intentions. However, Ivy is determined to hold onto the luxurious lifestyle she has created for herself and will stop at nothing to maintain it.

The film received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising Barrymore’s performance but criticizing the film’s portrayal of female sexuality. Despite this, Poison Ivy has since become a cult classic and spawned three sequels.

Cast

The main cast of Poison Ivy (1992) includes:

• Drew Barrymore as Ivy
• Sara Gilbert as Sylvie Cooper
• Tom Skerritt as Darryl Cooper
• Cheryl Ladd as Georgie Cooper
• Alan Stock as Max, Ivy’s father
• Jeanne Sakata as Mrs. Chan
• E.J. Moore as Harold
• Leonardo DiCaprio as Guy, Ivy’s love interest (uncredited cameo)

Note: Leonardo DiCaprio has a small uncredited role in the film as Ivy’s love interest, Guy.

Production

Poison Ivy was directed by Katt Shea and written by Andy Ruben. The film was produced by New Line Cinema and was released in 1992.

The production team chose Drew Barrymore for the role of Ivy because they believed that she had the ability to portray the character’s manipulative and seductive nature convincingly. The film was shot in Los Angeles, California, and the production design was done by Lawrence G. Paull.

The score for the film was composed by David Michael Frank, and it features several songs by artists such as The Cocteau Twins and Sarah McLachlan. The film’s cinematography was done by Phedon Papamichael.

Despite its mixed reviews, Poison Ivy was a box office success, grossing over $5 million in the United States alone. The film also helped to establish Drew Barrymore as a leading actress in Hollywood.

Reviews

Reviews for Poison Ivy were mixed upon its release in 1992. While some critics praised Drew Barrymore’s performance, others criticized the film’s portrayal of female sexuality and the overall plot. Here are a few examples of reviews:

• Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a positive review, writing: “Poison Ivy is a well-made thriller with three-dimensional characters, not simply a sexploitation exercise.”
• Desson Howe of the Washington Post gave the film a negative review, writing: “Poison Ivy is supposed to be a subtle, psychological thriller about the sexual awakening of a young girl. Unfortunately, the filmmakers never give you the chance to forget that you’re watching a movie.”
• Janet Maslin of The New York Times criticized the film’s portrayal of female sexuality, writing: “The film’s notion of female sexuality is crudely formulaic and disheartening, and its approach to suspense is similarly rote.”
• Variety also gave the film a mixed review, writing: “Despite a few disturbing moments, Poison Ivy is not as intoxicating as it could have been. A game cast struggles to create credible characters, but a misguided script denies them adequate material.”

Despite the mixed reviews, Poison Ivy has since become a cult classic and has spawned several sequels.

Where are they now?

Here’s an update on the main cast of Poison Ivy and what they have been up to since the film’s release:

• Drew Barrymore (Ivy) has had a successful career as an actress, producer, and director. She has starred in numerous films, including The Wedding Singer, Charlie’s Angels, and 50 First Dates. She has also produced several popular TV shows, including Santa Clarita Diet and The Drew Barrymore Show.
• Sara Gilbert (Sylvie) has continued to act and has also worked as a TV host and producer. She is best known for her role as Darlene Conner on the TV series Roseanne and its spinoff, The Conners. She also served as a co-host and executive producer of the daytime talk show The Talk.
• Tom Skerritt (Darryl) has continued to act in films and TV shows, including A River Runs Through It, Contact, and Picket Fences. He has also worked as a director and producer.
• Cheryl Ladd (Georgie) has continued to act in films and TV shows, including Charmed, Las Vegas, and Unforgettable. She has also worked as a singer and author, releasing several albums and writing a children’s book.
• Alan Stock (Max) has continued to act in films and TV shows, including the TV series The West Wing and the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He has also worked as a producer and writer.
• Leonardo DiCaprio (Guy) has gone on to become one of the biggest movie stars in the world, starring in blockbuster films such as Titanic, The Departed, and The Revenant. He has also worked as a producer and environmental activist, founding the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to support environmental causes.

Fun facts

Here are some fun facts about Poison Ivy (1992):

• The film marked the first leading role for Drew Barrymore after her troubled childhood and teenage years.
• Leonardo DiCaprio had a small, uncredited role in the film as Ivy’s love interest, Guy. It was one of his first roles in Hollywood.
• The film was originally rated NC-17, but it was edited to secure an R rating for its theatrical release.
• The film’s working title was “The Bride of Fire,” but it was changed to “Poison Ivy” after the filmmakers realized that the original title didn’t accurately represent the film’s plot.
• Drew Barrymore’s character, Ivy, wears a bracelet with a charm that says “Love Conquers All.” This is a reference to the Latin phrase “Amor vincit omnia,” which means the same thing.
• Poison Ivy was followed by three sequels: Poison Ivy II: Lily (1996), Poison Ivy: The New Seduction (1997), and Poison Ivy: The Secret Society (2008). None of the sequels featured any of the original cast members.
• The film’s director, Katt Shea, also appeared in the film as the character Georgie’s therapist.

Box office

Trailer