Powder (1995)

A young bald albino boy with unique powers shakes up the rural community he lives in.

Director:

Victor Salva

Writer:

Victor Salva

Stars:

Mary Steenburgen, Sean Patrick Flanery, Lance Henriksen

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mary Steenburgen	...	Jessie Caldwell
Sean Patrick Flanery	...	Jeremy 'Powder' Reed
Lance Henriksen	...	Sheriff Doug Barnum
Jeff Goldblum	...	Donald Ripley
Brandon Smith	...	Deputy Harley Duncan
Bradford Tatum	...	John Box
Susan Tyrrell	...	Maxine
Missy Crider	...	Lindsey Kelloway
Ray Wise	...	Dr. Aaron Stripler
Esteban Powell	...	Mitch
Reed Frerichs	...	Skye
Chad Cox	...	Zane
Joe Marchman	...	Brennan
Philip Maurice Hayes	...	Greg Reed (as Phillip Maurice Hayes)
Danette McMahon	...	Emma Barnum

Storyline

When sheriff Barnum investigates the death of an elderly rural resident, he discovers a teenage grandson living in the basement. Raised by his grandparents, he has experienced the world only through books, never leaving the family farm. He is sent to a state home for boys where he has trouble fitting in socially. His odd appearance and unusual abilities cause the small town residents to fear and ridicule him. However, not all are afraid. Some begin to view his potential and gifts with wonderment.

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Plot Keywords:

albino | sheriff | death | clothes ripping | flashback | 

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Taglines:

An extraordinary encounter with another human being!

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense, sometimes frightening elements of theme, and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arc

Filming Locations:

Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$30,862,146 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Caravan Pictures, Daniel Grodnik Productions, Hollywood Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There was a great deal of consternation among many of the cast and crew when it came to light halfway through production that director Victor Salva had been convicted for child molestation several years earlier. The main cause of concern was that many of the production members had brought their family to the set.

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Goofs

After the deer is shot by the hunter, within seconds of dying the animals legs appear stiff and suspended in mid-air. Rigamortis does not set in this quickly. The deers limbs should have remained limp.

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Quotes

Powder: She thinks I'm an angel.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: David Alan Grier/Silverchair (1995)

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Soundtracks

"ROLL UP WALTZ"
Written by Andrew J. Hall
Courtesy of Associated Production Music

User Reviews

Depressing, but extremely powerful and moving

Sean Patrick Flannery is an incredibly under rated actor after this remarkable performance he gave in "Powder", while the story is very dark and just not pleasant, he really gave it his all into this film and you can see how emotionally connected he is in it. We also have Mary Steinberg and Jeff Goldblum who give their all into their characters, I just think they were not that well developed enough. They could have had a little more.

The movie starts off with a mother and father rushing into labor, only on the way, unfortunately is struck by listening in a massive thunderstorm. She does not survive, but the baby does and the father is not only devastated but rejects his son. Sean plays Jeremy or as most people call him, "Powder" due to him being an albino. He is hidden in his grandparent's basement and has never been out of the house. When his grandmother passes, Jessica Caldwill, played by Mary Steinberg, convinces Jeremy that he must leave and they'll give him and home and school to attend. He does leave and slowly progresses towards what he thinks may be a better life.

When Donald Ripley, a school teacher, has the I.Q. results for Jeremy for his school, he is amazed. There is no score high enough for Jeremy, he's smarter than Albert Einstein. He can memorize book pages word for word, he knows agonizing math problems, and knows the pain of the world. He also has a mysterious power where he if he is exposed to electricity, he gets electrocuted. He also has the power to make people feel the same pain as they inflicted unto another, he also can read minds. Unfortunately, this isn't making him very popular with the jocks of the school who brutally torment him not just mentally but physically. There is only really Donald, Jessica, and another girl Lidnsey who want to be his friends. Only he's just not willing to except this world of pain when so many people doubt and torture him like Doug Barnum who is the town's sheriff and just thinks Jeremy is a freak. His wife is unfortunately dying and comes to Jeremy to ask for a favor and to help him find out what his wife wants. This scene is so extremely touching and tearful. The scene that got to most to me is when the boys go on a hunting trip and the coach shoots a deer for sport and are just laughing at this poor deer dying. Jeremy then takes his hand on the deer and his other hand on the coach and the coach starts to have somewhat of a seizure, and he made the coach feel the same pain he put on the deer. Poetic justice and well deserved I thought.

"Powder", despite being depressing, is a pretty decent picture worth viewing if you are in the mood for a sappy flick. But trust me, it is worth the it, you get a great performance that deserved more praise by Sean, also the same with Mary and Jeff. The acting just takes this movie to where it should be.

7/10