Powder cover art

Powder Reviews

1997 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 2049 members

An inspiring drama in which a young man with supernatural powers struggles to fit into society. When he eventually discloses his special abilities the lives of those around him are changed forever. Read more

Starring Mary Steenburgen, Sean Patrick Flanery, Lance Henriksen, Jeff Goldblum
Director Victor Salva
Genres Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

loading loading...

  • Critics' reviews (2) of Powder

    View all
  • 4 stars out of 5

    This extremely moving fantasy drama tells the tale of a teenager whose mother was struck by lightning during labour, giving him a ghostly white appearance, an extraordinary intellect and miraculous powers. Sean Patrick Flanery (completely shorn of body hair) delivers a wonderfully sympathetic central performance as the young misfit whose unique abilities generate feelings of hostility in the small-minded townsfolk. There's fine support , too, from Jeff Goldblum, Mary Steenburgen and an unusually expressive Lance Henriksen. Victor Salva's intelligent script and assured direction take some fairly familiar themes to some quite unexpected places, and the scene where Flanery transfers the feelings of a dying deer to its heartless hunter is unforgettable.

    • Radio Times
  • When his guardian grandparent cops it, 'Powder' (Flanery), a traumatised, telepathic teenage albino, is dragged from... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Powder

    View all
  • 9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Powerful Film

    I really like this film,it has a great cast,good story and an explosive finale.Anyone whos ever been beat on or been hard done by will strike a chord with this film.

    The film centres around an albino boy whos taunted and rejected by others because of his eerie white skin,it covers a wide range of topics and also has a moral message in there as well. The overall story is good and both Jeff Goldblum and Lance Henriksen play off each other quite well.

    Without giving the plot away its best to watch it with a friend or your missus as its quite sad in places.cOverall a good film which in my estimation was underated on its initial release. Go rent it,its well worth a look.

      • orangeboom278 from west lothian
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    My type of film! Unusual and made you think. Good acting. Inspired many different emotions. Recommended.

      • A customer from CAMBERLEY
  • 7 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    dreadful

    One of the worst films I have ever seen. Dreadful plot - with an inconsistent story line that jumps around too much. It's only redeeming feature - Jeff Goldblum was his usual eccentric self. Don't rent it.

      • BlueCowboy from london
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Powder

    View all
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Unexpected suprise

    I just came upon this one by chance and thought I would give it a go. Decent story, well laid out with some good performances from the leads. I enjoyed it!

      • keefy from newcastle
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Brilliant

    I have to say, this was one of the best films i've seen in a long time. The acting is brilliant, and the portrayal of what it feels like for someone to be estranged from society is incredibly moving. I would recommend this film to anyone, but have tissues at the ready.

      • A customer from Grantham, England
  • 9 out of 9 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Powerful Film

    I really like this film,it has a great cast,good story and an explosive finale.Anyone whos ever been beat on or been hard done by will strike a chord with this film.

    The film centres around an albino boy whos taunted and rejected by others because of his eerie white skin,it covers a wide range of topics and also has a moral message in there as well. The overall story is good and both Jeff Goldblum and Lance Henriksen play off each other quite well.

    Without giving the plot away its best to watch it with a friend or your missus as its quite sad in places.cOverall a good film which in my estimation was underated on its initial release. Go rent it,its well worth a look.

      • orangeboom278 from west lothian
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    My type of film! Unusual and made you think. Good acting. Inspired many different emotions. Recommended.

      • A customer from CAMBERLEY
  • 7 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    dreadful

    One of the worst films I have ever seen. Dreadful plot - with an inconsistent story line that jumps around too much. It's only redeeming feature - Jeff Goldblum was his usual eccentric self. Don't rent it.

      • BlueCowboy from london
  • 5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    very thought provoking

    I watched this film some years ago when it first came out and at the time would have given 3 stars and said average. Now having watched it again some years later I got the point.

    If you've read Neale Walsch's Conversations with God this movies' thought provoking intelligence will probably slap you in the face.

      • A customer from wales
  • 4 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    rubbish

    not the sort of film to rent or even buy please take it out of your selections !!!!!saw 2 minutes and turned it off

      • A customer from kent
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Emotional

    This film may not appeal to all. But it does have a good cast, and is very emotional. Sean Patrick Flannery plays a young man who is very different from the people around him. He has specil ablities, but is evident that even these abilities don't compensate for a lonely life and lack of love.

    I would recommend this film, because of its message, that different is okay.

      • A customer from WALES
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Unexpected suprise

    I just came upon this one by chance and thought I would give it a go. Decent story, well laid out with some good performances from the leads. I enjoyed it!

      • keefy from newcastle
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    BLOW YOU AWAY

    THIS FILM WAS BROUGHT OUT A FEW YEARS AGO.I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND IT FOR AGES.AND AM I GLAD I DID.THIS FILM IS FANTASTIC.I COULD KEEP WATCHING IT OVER AND OVER. A VERY POWERFUL STORYLINE.AND ALSO VERY HEARTWRENCHING,DEFINATELY A MUST SEE.

      • SAZZA1 from derbyshire
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    One to watch

    I, and three friends watched this film from start to end without interruption.

    We found it to be engrossing, moving, heartwarming, touching and possessing a whole raft of other elements that make up a good film. Please don't think that this makes it the best movie of all time - but it had an excellent plot, a moving storyline and some genuinely good acting all round. It gets a big thumbs up from three of us anyway

      • A customer from Cornwall, England
  • 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    It was just horrible!

    What a terrible film... It was like watching a car crash dummy coming alive from the old TV car advertisments!

    I wasted nearly two hours watching utter laughable rubbish!

      • A customer from Wales
  • Critics' reviews (2)

  • 4 stars out of 5

    This extremely moving fantasy drama tells the tale of a teenager whose mother was struck by lightning during labour, giving him a ghostly white appearance, an extraordinary intellect and miraculous powers. Sean Patrick Flanery (completely shorn of body hair) delivers a wonderfully sympathetic central performance as the young misfit whose unique abilities generate feelings of hostility in the small-minded townsfolk. There's fine support , too, from Jeff Goldblum, Mary Steenburgen and an unusually expressive Lance Henriksen. Victor Salva's intelligent script and assured direction take some fairly familiar themes to some quite unexpected places, and the scene where Flanery transfers the feelings of a dying deer to its heartless hunter is unforgettable.

    • Radio Times
  • When his guardian grandparent cops it, 'Powder' (Flanery), a traumatised, telepathic teenage albino, is dragged from... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop


    • Powder
    • DVD: £3.93
      Free Delivery
    • RRP £15.79 (you save: 75%)
    • An inspiring drama in which a young man with supernatural powers struggles to fit into society. When he eventually discloses his special abilities the lives of those around him are changed forever....

Rating breakdown

2,049 Member ratings
  • 100
276
  • 90
195
  • 80
368
  • 70
340
  • 60
342
  • 50
196
  • 40
148
  • 30
79
  • 20
70
  • 10
35

Related user collection

by: A customer from London

Celebrity collection

Bill Nighy (13)
Average rating: 3.29   65.8% from 52 members