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The Young Poisoner's Handbook

R Released Feb 23, 1996 1h 46m Comedy Drama List
87% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Graham Young (Hugh O'Conor) is a teenage misfit living in suburban London in the 1960s. He hates his stepmother (Ruth Sheen) but loves chemistry, and the two impulses unite in a wicked plot to slowly poison her. After she dies, he's found guilty and sent to a psychiatric hospital, where an idealistic doctor (Antony Sher) thinks he can be cured. Upon release, Graham finds a job, but struggles to fight back his old urges for murder. The film is based on the true story of the "Teacup Murderer."
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The Young Poisoner's Handbook

Critics Reviews

View All (15) Critics Reviews
Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: A- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Rated: 4/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Graham Young is at bottom a monster, but, as Hugh O'Conor plays him, he is also peculiarly beguiling. It is easy to sympathize with a bright young man who wants to get ahead in his chosen field. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault O’Conor delivers one of the great hateful/sympathetic performances. Rated: B Sep 1, 2022 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Rated: 4/5 Mar 15, 2007 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 2, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (81) audience reviews
施玉 林 I rarely watched biography films because I feel so bored to watch this kind of films. Another reason is I'm not interested in other people's lives. But this one caught my attention. I first found out about Graham Young is in a YouTube video. That YouTuber explained Graham Young's life in overall. Then I searched on Wikipedia and then I found about this movie, and so, I watched.​ Although this film is biography which I don't like to watch that much, but I must admit that the director is pretty good. He could make it not to feel bored at all. All of my interest was in this film all the time. Hence, I'd say the presentation is good. That said, there's one thing I don't get. Can prisoners take a diamond ring and a razor blade into the prison cell? Especially razor blades. If they let the prisoners take razor blade into the prison cell, don't they afraid that prisoners will commit suicide? Except this fact, everything's good and I've enjoyed this film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/03/24 Full Review Nox T I knew nothing of the movie going in, just the title, and was pleasantly surprised. Excellent soundtrack and sound design, good cinematography, wonderful casting and acting, the whole shebang. I normally write silly goofy reviews but, strangely, I felt compelled to give a normal one for this movie. Something about it kept me hooked the whole way through. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Well crafted and acted tale of true crime story - was it just me but I saw some Harry Potter in this film Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member "I want to be the greatest poisoner the world has ever seen" I admire the guts of making a movie about an infamous english serial killer into a black comedy, especially since in 1995, it was only five years ago since the man in question (Graham Young) died. My expectations about this movie was honestly not very high. I knew of this movie's existence for several years before I watched it for the first time yesterday. Since I usually have heard some about movies before I watch them (if they are supposed to be good or bad ect.) and couldn't remember anything about this one, I took for granted it was a very mediocre movie. So I was suprised to find this entertaining and even slightly above average! Been trying to do some research on the director, Benjamin Ross, but it looks like he haven't made that many movies, and strangely it seems like Young Poisoner's Handbook, is the only movie by him I've seen. The movie however contains lots of english actors you will probably recognize from other known english movies. The guy who plays Graham Young, Hugh O'Conor had a small role in My Left Foot, and the woman who plays the stepmother (Ruth Sheen) has appeared in most of Mike Leigh's movies. I was surprised to know that even the girl who plays the sister (Charlotte Coleman) is known for playing the roommate, Scarlett in Four Weddings And A Funeral. (It's hard to recognize her without that bright red hair, though!) What impressed me the most about this movie, expect for the fact that they managed to make a comedy of it, is the inventive and very playful script. Though it's roughly based on a true story, it doesn't prevent the filmmakers to develope the characters (and make them wackier then ever!) and even adding fun twists to the movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member A modern cult classic! overwhelmingly hilarious, totally sick and twisted--The best thing since "A Clockwork Orange"!! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member It doesn't delve into its subjects psyche enough for my taste, but there is a interesting bluntness to its narrative. A Sociopathic Megalomaniac will continue to be a Sociopathic Megalomaniac, regardless of how much dream analysis they undergo. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Young Poisoner's Handbook

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Cast & Crew

Night on Earth 77% 91% Night on Earth Funny Bones 63% 81% Funny Bones Intimate Relations 14% 59% Intimate Relations Trainspotting 90% 93% Trainspotting Nothing to Lose 31% 68% Nothing to Lose Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Graham Young (Hugh O'Conor) is a teenage misfit living in suburban London in the 1960s. He hates his stepmother (Ruth Sheen) but loves chemistry, and the two impulses unite in a wicked plot to slowly poison her. After she dies, he's found guilty and sent to a psychiatric hospital, where an idealistic doctor (Antony Sher) thinks he can be cured. Upon release, Graham finds a job, but struggles to fight back his old urges for murder. The film is based on the true story of the "Teacup Murderer."
Director
Benjamin Ross
Producer
Sam Taylor
Screenwriter
Jeff Rawle, Benjamin Ross
Distributor
Polygram
Production Co
Pandora Cinema
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 23, 1996, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA)
$532.0K
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
Surround
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