Poison (1991)

We're kicking off Pride 2026 with a look at Todd Haynes's 1991 feature debut, Poison - one of the defining films of the New Queer Cinema movement! Join in as we discuss Haynes's early career, the way the movie's subject and structure challenge convention, and the rise of the Sundance Film Festival. Plus: Why did this movie cause trouble for the National Endowment for the Arts? Which of the three stories is the most unbelievable? And an explanation of why you should give Haynes's Dark Waters a second chance. Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: My Own Private Idaho (1991)-----------------------------------------------------Key sources and links for this episode:Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film by Peter Biskind (2004)"New Queer Cinema" by B. Ruby Rich (Sight & Sound)"On the Margins: Todd Haynes's Poison" (Criterion)"Todd Haynes's Poison" (Art Forum)"The Todd Haynes Poison Controversy Explained" (SlashFilm)"Todd Haynes Rewrites the Hollywood Playbook" (New Yorker)"Transcendent Transgression: Looking Back at Todd Haynes's Poison" (Sundance)Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (YouTube)Cloud Atlas extended trailer (YouTube)"Serial Killer Documentary Takes Horrible Turn" by Cole Escola (YouTube)"Investigation into Bishop Bransfield finds Harassment, Gross Misuse of Funds" (National Catholic Reporter)