The Pitt and the Poison. Pretty Poison comes from director Noel Black and features a screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Junior, based on Stephen Geller’s novel “She Let Him Continue.” The cast includes Anthony Perkins, Tuesday Weld, Beverly Garland, John Randolph, and Dick O’Neill. Johnny Mandel handled the music, with David Quaid serving as cinematographer. It's hard to think of a better example of a cult film than Pretty Poison. This strangely wonderful neo-noir is clever, and while it confused many when it first came out, a dedicated following has kept this particular story alive. The movie follows Perkins’ character, Dennis Pitt, who was an arsonist in his youth and now lives as a fantasist. He's recently been released from a mental health facility, despite the concerns of his parole officer. Starting a job at a chemical factory, Dennis meets Sue Anne Stepanek (Weld), a high school drum majorette, and convinces her he’s a secret agent. Unbeknownst to him, she is happy to play along, as she has some desires of her own. Similar to the excellent film noir Gun Crazy (1950), Pretty Poison changes the usual formula of a male-female crime story by making the woman the one causing problems. Dennis Pitt doesn’t realize how little control he truly has in this relationship; he believes he's finally found someone to share his fantasies with, but she is manipulating him, drawing him into a chaotic situation from which he can’t break free. The performances are excellent, particularly from Weld and Perkins, and Black and the technical crew give the film a distinct visual style. It functions as a black comedy; initially, the filmmakers keep the audience guessing whether they should be laughing, feeling uneasy, or even leaving altogether. The movie is that unusual in its shifts in tone. Eventually, it becomes clear that we are witnessing a deceptively dangerous and strangely alluring Americana, full of cynicism. Pretty Poison is subversive, smart, and completely absorbing; it deserves more recognition. 8/10

Source on TMDB