Arriving on Netflix today is the latest entry in a collection of live-action short films which adapt the work of author Roald Dahl. The film is called Poison, and it is the fourth and final mini-movie in a series which includes The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, and The Rat Catcher.
As with its predecessors (which all landed on Netflix this week), Poison is written and directed by Wes Anderson, and is based on the Dahl story of the same name. The short stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes, and tells the story of a man who lies rigid in his bed, because a deadly poisonous snake is asleep on his chest.
In the film, Harry is reading a book, when he notices the snake has slithered on top of him. Unsure what to do, and paralysed with fear, he remains perfectly still and waits for someone to come and help him.
Running 17-minutes in length and maintaining the same direct-to-camera storytelling technique of the three previous Dahl adaptations, Poison is once again another triumphant short film from Wes Anderson. The movie takes a simple story, finds a way to tell it as effectively as possible, and makes it completely spellbinding from start to finish.
I never expected to become so invested in a story about a man and a snake before, but Anderson got me hooked. And he managed it thanks to a simple set design, some marvellous directorial choices, and a throughly good cast.
The four main players in Poison have all appeared in the three previous shorts and they continue to impress here. Kingsley, Patel, and Fiennes command the screen and whenever they talk the audience listens and follows along dutifully.
But it’s Cumberbatch who steals every scene in this film, giving a subtle performance which says so much, while seemingly doing so little. Playing the bed-bound and utterly frightened Harry, the actor uses only his eyes and his mouth to convey his emotions, as he ensures he doesn’t move even a fraction of the rest of his body.
It is a controlled performance from Cumberbatch and one which brings tension to the film. In contrast to this, the other actors are far more animated as they panic about Harry’s safety, which in turn brings a great deal of energy to the piece.
As with all of these Dahl adaptations, Poison does end abruptly, and just like The Wonderful Story of Henry and The Swan the ending doesn’t feel all that satisfying. However, everything that comes before the conclusion is too good not to enjoy, so this aspect of the short doesn’t derail what is on offer.
With Poison, Wes Anderson completes his quartet of Dahl shorts with another delightful adaptation and it’s enjoyable to watch. I hope we see more Anderson adaptations in the future, because these have been a real treat.
—
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment