Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Poison

  • 2023
  • PG
  • 17m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
26K
YOUR RATING
Poison (2023)
ComedyDramaShortThriller

When a poisonous snake slithers onto an Englishman's stomach in India, his associate and a doctor race to save him.When a poisonous snake slithers onto an Englishman's stomach in India, his associate and a doctor race to save him.When a poisonous snake slithers onto an Englishman's stomach in India, his associate and a doctor race to save him.

  • Director
    • Wes Anderson
  • Writers
    • Roald Dahl
    • Wes Anderson
  • Stars
    • Dev Patel
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Ralph Fiennes
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    26K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wes Anderson
    • Writers
      • Roald Dahl
      • Wes Anderson
    • Stars
      • Dev Patel
      • Benedict Cumberbatch
      • Ralph Fiennes
    • 37User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos39

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 35
    View Poster

    Top cast6

    Edit
    Dev Patel
    Dev Patel
    • Timber Woods
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Harry Pope
    Ralph Fiennes
    Ralph Fiennes
    • Roald Dahl
    Ben Kingsley
    Ben Kingsley
    • Dr. Ganderbai
    Eliel Ford
    • Stagehand
    Benoît Herlin
    • Stagehand
    • Director
      • Wes Anderson
    • Writers
      • Roald Dahl
      • Wes Anderson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews37

    6.826.2K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    9Quinoa1984

    Not just the snakes, you know - white knuckle comic suspense

    Who really has the poison in them, when you think about it ::sits back and quietly Puffs on a pipe in a scholarly robe::

    And so with this, the fourth and final short (for now) adaptation of Roald Dahl by the superlative current distinctive filmmaker of his works, Wes Anderson, we get the kind of white-knuckle pot boiler-pressure cooker scenario that we usually would associate with Quentin Tarantino, including the razor-sharp editing and sickening sense of humor. This is editing that directs you into Benedict Cumberbatch's "Oh bloody hell get this snake off" face for several minutes and the on-camera narration and involved reactions by Dev Patel keeps one equally locked in.

    By the time Kingsley comes on the scene, you're in for something that you know is going to kick your brain into the other side of the room, but it's all benefitting from it being so absolutely funny (take off your shoes!) And as mhch as someone watching can understand how pleasurable it is when that pressure valve gets kicked off, it is equally disturbing (but not unsurprising) how quickly, when things suddenly appear to be not in danger anymore, a human being can revert to the absolute worst (or, deep down, truest) version of himself. And that final moment in the car with Kingsley's doctor is rather heartbreaking - mostly for the character's understanding that the status quo has returned, and it sucks.

    This may not reach quite the highs of Henry Sugar, but for what Anderson and his cast, particularly Cumberbatch who has not been this intense since the best of Sherlock, accomplish here Poison is a high point in the director's body of work and it is enough to say it's worth it to find on Netflix even if you don't have a subscription (get the free trial if you have to). 9.5/10.
    8masonsaul

    Turns out Wes is great at tension

    Poison is a short film filled with tension pretty much instantaneously, initially feeling like a fun piece of style over substance until its final moments in which it suddenly gets a lot darker with an ending designed to leave a lasting impression.

    Fulfilling the promise of Henry Sugar, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley all get a much welcome second go at playing in the world of Wes. With Cumberbatch mostly restricted to a bed Dev Patel becomes the standout, still perfect with his delivery and mannerisms.

    Wes Anderson's direction is always flawless in its visual construction, the sets here remain gorgeous to look at but a lot smaller in scale and the best surprise here is Wes showing that his usual, heightened style actually works really well for crafting tension.
    7MattyLuke-81663

    Devastating

    "I'm sorry."

    "You can't be."

    What an ending. It's so devastating that it left me a bit speechless. No matter the good deeds you do for others, it will be ignored because your race and religion is a problem for some people.

    And that brings the end to the daily Wes Anderson's Netflix-Journey. I'm sad that it's over but I'm happy it exists.

    Dev Patel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Ayoade, and Rupert Friend were all terrific.

    AI and dumb TikTok users could never do this. All these short films are the finest work from Mr. Anderson. I hope he makes more movies like this in the future.
    7adambarta

    Gripping experience

    Watching the newly filmed short movie Poison, I was fascinated how brilliant acting and directing can come together (with brilliant storytelling as well) and create such an epic movie.

    The story evolves around a man named Mr. Pope who lies in his bed while a deadly snake falls asleep under his sheet. His friend Woods is there to help him get out of this terrible situation.

    The camera is just wonderful, constantly switching views and finding creative ways to tell the story. The acting is terrific, just perfect to the last detail to serve the story. The setting and design are exactly how a world out of a book might look.
    7khalidmoubile

    Poison.

    Poison.

    When a poisonous snake slithers onto an Englishman's stomach in India, his associate and a doctor race to save him.

    Poison is the last short movie that watched from the collection and I can say that it was a beautiful experience to watch the 4 episodes in the same day, I'd love to get more of these Wes style shorts that takes you right into a story with an interesting narration style and more interestingly the beautiful sets and directing.

    I can't stop talking about Wes Anderson, so let's talk about Poison, it was unexpectedly thrilling and fun but I don't think it's his best story wise .

    More like this

    The Rat Catcher
    6.5
    The Rat Catcher
    The Swan
    6.7
    The Swan
    The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More
    7.1
    The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More
    The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
    7.4
    The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
    Montblanc: 100 Years of Meisterstück
    6.9
    Montblanc: 100 Years of Meisterstück
    Asteroid City
    6.4
    Asteroid City
    The French Dispatch
    7.1
    The French Dispatch
    Asteroid City Location Featurette
    6.6
    Asteroid City Location Featurette
    Castello Cavalcanti
    7.1
    Castello Cavalcanti
    Come Together: A Fashion Picture in Motion
    7.3
    Come Together: A Fashion Picture in Motion
    Isle of Dogs
    7.8
    Isle of Dogs
    Moonrise Kingdom
    7.8
    Moonrise Kingdom

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Harry is reading the Chinese erotic novel "The Golden Lotus."
    • Quotes

      Timber Woods: I mean, he owes you his life, Doctor.

      Dr. Ganderbai: No, he doesn't.

      Timber Woods: I'm sorry.

      Dr. Ganderbai: You can't be.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More (2024)
    • Soundtracks
      Chants et Danses de la Moisson
      Field Recording by Deben Bhattacharia

      Courtesy of Arc Music Productions Int. Ltd. on behalf of Deben Bhattacharia Ltd.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ1

    • What kind of snake are they talking about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Article on Netflix website
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Отрута
    • Filming locations
      • The Maidstone Studios, Maidstone, Kent, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • American Empirical Pictures
      • Indian Paintbrush
      • Netflix
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 17m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16 : 9
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.