Poison (2023)

Poison Review

Poison is a 2023 short film directed by Wes Anderson and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Dev Patel. It’s a charming flick.

In India, a venomous snake crawls into the stomach of an Englishman, causing his colleague and a doctor to find a way to save him. This was another stellar short movie that Wes Anderson made for Netflix in 2023. Also based on a Roald Dahl short story, this is a very simple, but intricately told tale of handling snakes properly. The narration from Dev Patel is again incredibly amusing and idiosyncratic as he would constantly break the fourth wall in many fun ways.

The attention to detail is superb, the costumes are excellent and the production design dazzling, making for such a charming period piece. Ben Kingsley was another highlight while Cumberbatch was reliably strong. The only flaw here is that ending, which felt abrupt and weak. Obviously it was meant to counter racism, but that theme came way too late in the game, so it felt rushed.

Poison is another strong Wes Anderson short that features an interesting story, strong acting and fantastic technical aspects.

My Rating – 4