Poison Ivy Trilogy

177. Poison Ivy
178. Poison Ivy 2: Lily
179. Poison Ivy: The New Seduction


Poison Ivy is the 1992 movie starring Drew Barrymore and Sara Gilbert.

When this movie came out, it was something of a big deal as Drew Barrymore had been known only as a child actress to this point. She'd also had a major drug problem during those days so this was a chance to break the shackles and do something completely different. By portraying a character that was more adult, it might be just the boost she'd need to re-start her career.

Barrymore stars here as Ivy, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. She dresses very provocatively, has her nose pierced and sports a fake tattoo on her thigh. Nowadays, that's normal...in 1992, it was provocative. She meets Sylvie Cooper, a smart girl who doesn't have many friends. They hit it off and Ivy winds up ingratiating herself into Sylvie's family by being charming at all the right times. Of course, things aren't always as innocent as they appear on the surface.

This is a pretty good flick. It doesn't live up to the hype that preceded it but it's certainly still enjoyable. The story is interesting and there's enough development to make the characters engaging. As the leads, Barrymore and Gilbert are both solid. Barrymore has always been a favorite of mine so it's some nice eye candy for me. In supporting roles, Tom Skerritt and Cheryl Ladd are good. Skerritt has the creepy older guy vibe down pat.

Overall, Poison Ivy is worth checking out. Especially if you're a fan of Drew Barrymore.


Poison Ivy 2: Lily is the 1996 sequel to Poison Ivy.

This one stars Alyssa Milano as Lily, a girl from Michigan who has moved out to California to attend college. She finds a box of personal items belonging to Ivy, including clothing, photos and a diary. As time goes on, she becomes consumed by the diary and photos, eventually becoming more and more like Ivy and less like herself.

Like the star of the previous movie, this is noted as Alyssa Milano's attempt to break out of her child actress image. She has several topless scenes and is seen wearing revealing clothing. And like Barrymore, she was one of my big childhood crushes, thus luring me into viewing this one.

I didn't care for this one as much as the original. While the story was interesting, I feel as though it just kind of fell apart in the last 15 minutes or so. What was actually an interesting drama seemed to take a turn into standard thriller territory. I guess they had to end the flick somehow though. At any rate, the acting here is good. Milano, Jonathan Schaech and Xander Berkeley are solid. Camilla Belle has a small role as a child that Milano's character babysits.

Overall, Poison Ivy 2: Lily is a decent sequel. It's not as good as the first one but it's still worth checking out.


Poison Ivy: The New Seduction is the 1997 third installment in the Poison Ivy series.

This one stars Jaime Pressly, in her film debut, as Violet. Violet is the sister of Ivy, thus connecting all of the movies. At least unlike the second movie, there seems to be a bit of sense being made here. Anyway, Violet and Ivy's mom was a live-in housekeeper for a well-to-do family. An incident takes place that leads to her being fired and kicked out of the house. 10 years later, Violet returns to the house to reconnect with Joy, the daughter. Much like her sister, she's got some devious plans under her belt.

Of the 3 movies, this is my least favorite. Not to say that it's bad or anything. Instead, it's just a rehash of many erotic thriller bits we've seen before. The cast is decent enough. Pressly is good. Not to mention insanely hot. Of the Ivy ladies, they've gotten progressively better looking as the series has gone on, something I thought impossible. Support comes from Megan Edwards, Michael Des Barres and Susan Tyrell.

Overall, The New Seduction is the weakest of the series. However, fans of Jaime Pressly might want to check it out for her presence.