Powder ** (1995, Sean Patrick Flanery, Jeff Goldblum, Mary Steenburgen, Lance Henriksen) – Classic Movie Review 6950

Writer/ director Victor Salva’s 1995 drama Powder is a weird Buena Vista Pictures [Walt Disney] teen fantasy tale of a freakish, bald, deathly-white misfit teenager (Sean Patrick Flanery) with paranormal powers, who realises his potential through the help of the local headmistress (Mary Steenburgen) and the school’s quirky science teacher (Jeff Goldblum).

Powder is intriguing stuff, but off-putting, even alienating scenes alternate with touching and appealing ones in an uneven and occasionally derivative film. Even if it has not quite got its act together, it does have the courage of its beliefs. The performances are generally very capable and attractive, and Flanery is particularly charismatic in a difficult role.

Also in the cast are Lance Henriksen, Brandon Smith, Bradford Tatum, Susan Tyrrell, Ray Wise and Missy Crider.

Powder is written by Victor Salva, runs 112 minutes, is produced by Caravan Pictures, Daniel Grodnik Productions, Hollywood Pictures and Itasca Pictures, is released by Buena Vista Pictures [Walt Disney], is written by Victor Salva, is shot in Technicolor by Jerzy Zielinski, is produced by Roger Birnbaum and Daniel Grodnik, amd is scored by Jerry Goldsmith.

On its 1995 US release, it was revealed that the writer/ director Victor Salva had a criminal record as a child molester, sealing the movie’s fate to be ignored or despised, so its UK movie release in 1997 was a surprise. It was a box office hit, costing $9,500,000 and grossing $30,862,146 in the US.

Disney officials said they learned of Salva’s crime only after production began and that there were no minors on the set.

It was shot around suburbs of Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas.

In 2001, Salva wrote and directed Jeepers Creepers, followed by Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003) and Jeepers Creepers III (2017).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6950

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