Taglines: Pure energy has a name.
Powder movie storyline. When sheriff Barnum investigates the death of an elderly rural resident, he discovers a teenage grandson living in the basement. Raised by his grandparents, he has experienced the world only through books, never leaving the family farm. He is sent to a state home for boys where he has trouble fitting in socially. His odd appearance and unusual abilities cause the small town residents to fear and ridicule him. However, not all are afraid. Some begin to view his potential and gifts with wonderment.
Powder is a 1995 American fantasy drama film, written and directed by Victor Salva and starring Sean Patrick Flanery in the titular role, with Jeff Goldblum, Mary Steenburgen, Bradford Tatum and Lance Henriksen in supporting roles.
The film is about Jeremy “Powder” Reed, who has an incredible intellect, as well as telepathy and paranormal powers. The film questions the limits of the human mind and body while also displaying society’s capacity for cruelty, and raises hope that humanity will advance to a state of better understanding. Its filming locations were around suburbs of Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas.
About the Story
Jeremy “Powder” Reed is an albino young man who has incredible intellect and is able to sense the thoughts of the people around him. Jeremy’s brain possesses a powerful electromagnetic charge, which causes electrical objects to function abnormally when he is around them, particularly when he becomes emotional. The electrical charge also prevents hair from growing on his body.
Jeremy’s mother was struck by lightning while pregnant with him; she died shortly after the strike, but Jeremy survived. His father disowned him shortly after his premature birth, and he was raised by his grandparents. Jeremy lived in the basement and worked on their farm, never leaving their property and learning everything he knew from books. He is taken from his home when his grandfather is found dead of natural causes. Jessie Caldwell (Mary Steenburgen), a child services psychologist, takes him to a boys’ home because he is now effectively a ward of the state.
Jessie enrolls him in high school, where Jeremy meets physics teacher Donald Ripley. Donald finds out that Jeremy has supernatural powers as well as the highest IQ in the history of mankind. While his abilities mark him as special, they also make him an outcast.
On a hunting trip with his schoolmates, Jeremy is threatened with a gun by John Box (Bradford Tatum), an aggressive student who views him as a freak. Before John can fire, a gun goes off in the distance, and everyone rushes to see that Harley Duncan, a Sheriff’s deputy, has shot a doe. Anguished by the animal’s death, Jeremy touches the deer and Harley, inducing in Harley what the students assume is a seizure. However, Harley admits that Jeremy had actually caused him to feel the pain and fear of the dying deer. Because of the experience, Harley removes all of his guns from his house, although Sheriff Doug Barnum allows him to remain as a sheriff’s deputy without a sidearm.
Powder (1995)
Directed by: Victor Salva
Starring: Mary Steenburgen, Sean Patrick Flanery, Lance Henriksen, Jeff Goldblum, Brandon Smith, Bradford Tatum, Susan Tyrrell, Missy Crider, Danette McMahon
Screenplay by: Victor Salva
Production Design by: Waldemar Kalinowski
Cinematography by: Jerzy Zielinski
Film Editing by: Dennis M. Hill
Costume Design by: Betsy Cox
Set Decoration by: Florence Fellman
Art Direction by: Barry Kingston
Music by: Jerry Goldsmith
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense, sometimes frightening elements of theme, and for language.
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
Release Date: October 27, 1995
Hits: 372
