Poison Ivy ** (1992, Drew Barrymore, Sara Gilbert, Tom Skerritt, Cheryl Ladd) – Classic Movie Review 9250

Director Katt Shea Ruben’s 1992 erotic thriller Poison Ivy is a forceful melodrama of the old Joan Crawford school, in which Drew Barrymore plays reckless teenager Ivy, who introduces herself into a wealthy family, moves in and changes their lives.

The seductive teen Ivy becomes a confidante to stressed-out TV executive Darryl Cooper (Tom Skerritt), his terminally ill wife Georgie Cooper (Cheryl Ladd) and their loner rebel high school student daughter Sylvie Cooper (Sara Gilbert). But Ivy begins to seduce the father and that’s when the trouble begins….

The handling of this intriguing premise is undistinguished, but the acting is quite credible in underwritten roles. A particularly good-looking film is smoothly lensed by ace cinematographer Phedon Papamichael.

Leonardo DiCaprio has a very brief role as a student called Guy.

Also in the cast are Alan Stock, Jeanne Sakata, E J Moore, J B Quon, Michael Goldner, Charley Hayward, Time Winters and Billy Kane.

It is written by Katt Shea Ruben and producer Andy Ruben, based on the story by Melissa Goddard and Peter Morgan. It is loosely based on a true story when the young Melissa Goddard had a friend stay with her and her family and the friend seduced her stepfather.

Poison Ivy is directed by Katt Shea [Katt Shea Ruben], runs 88 minutes (R-rated) or 90 minutes (unrated), is made by New Line Cinema and MG Entertainment, is released by New Line Cinema, is written by Katt Shea [Katt Shea Ruben] and Andy Ruben, based on the story by Melissa Goddard and Peter Morgan, is shot by Phedon Papamichael, is produced by Melissa Goddard (executive producer), Peter Morgan (executive producer) and Andy Ruben, and is scored by David Michael Frank, with Production Design by Virginia Lee.

Poison Ivy II followed in 1996, with Alyssa Milano, Johnathon Schaech, Xander Berkeley.

Poison Ivy: The New Seduction, directed by Kurt Voss, followed in 1997, with Jaime Pressly.

Poison Ivy: The Secret Society followed in 2008, with Miriam McDonald, Shawna Waldron and Ryan Kennedy.

 © Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9250

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com