The Young Poisoner's Handbook (1995)

This film is based on a true story about a British teenager who allegedly poisoned family, friends, and co-workers. Graham is highly intelligent, but completely amoral. He becomes ... See full summary »

Director:

Benjamin Ross

Writers:

Jeff Rawle, Benjamin Ross

Stars:

Hugh O'Conor, Antony Sher, Tobias Arnold

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tobias Arnold	...	Young Graham
Ruth Sheen	...	Molly
Roger Lloyd Pack	...	Fred
Hugh O'Conor	...	Graham Young
Norman Caro	...	Mr. Goez
Dorothea Alexander	...	Mrs. Goez
Charlotte Coleman	...	Winnie
Paul Stacey	...	Dennis
Samantha Edmonds	...	Sue
Robert Demeger	...	Mr. Dexter
Jack Deam	...	Mick
Peter Pacey	...	Dickie Boone
Joost Siedhoff	...	Dr. Scott
Vilma Hollingbery	...	Aunty Panty
Frank Mills	...	Uncle Jack

Storyline

This film is based on a true story about a British teenager who allegedly poisoned family, friends, and co-workers. Graham is highly intelligent, but completely amoral. He becomes interested in science, especially chemistry, and begins to read avidly. Something of a social misfit, he is fascinated by morbid subjects such as poisons and murder. His family environment is intolerable to him and, in particular, his stepmother torments him. He decides to poison those who annoy him, first with antimony and later with thallium. He smugly thinks himself cleverer than all those around him, but nevertheless he is caught and sentenced to 'rehabilitation' at a psychiatric institution. Once there, he undertakes to deceive the new eminent psychiatrist sent there to 'cure' him, thereby securing his release.

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Plot Keywords:

poisoner | murderer | death by poison | murder by poison | thallium poisoning | 

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Taglines:

Meet Graham. He's not your ordinary teenager.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for murders by poisoning, language and some nude photos

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was not screened at many local cinemas, due to the tone of the film, and out of respect for the surviving victims, and the relatives of the dead.

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Goofs

When Dr. Zeigler visits the institution for mentally unstable criminals in which Graham is hospitalized, the director of the institution says, referred to another patient: "Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores", saying it means "The leopard never changes his spots". Graham corrects him, saying it means instead: "The wolf changes its fur, but not its nature". Actually, "vulpes" means "fox".

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Quotes

Graham Young: I want to be the greatest poisoner the world has ever seen.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Up Close and Personal/Muppet Treasure Island/Fargo/Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam/The Young Poisoner's Handbook (1996)

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Soundtracks

Nut Rocker
Composed by Kim Fowley

User Reviews

One of the Best Sleepers

I truly love this film. The look on young Graham's face when he got his first chemistry set was probably like the one on my own when I got mine. Because I loved my family, I chose other areas of research and never experimented on them. That said, I found the humor in this black comedy right on target and I actually felt sorry for the young poisoner. If he had worked for Q branch he most likely would have received a knighthood rather than a prison sentence. I have no idea how close to the truth this movie is but it is on my top 20 films of all time.

Details

Country:

UK Germany France

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Young Poisoner's Handbook

Box Office

Gross USA:

$536,825

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$536,825

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bavaria Film and Television Fund, British Screen Productions, Eurimages

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1