Powder

Synopsis: 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.
Director(s): Victor Salva
Production: Hollywood Pictures
  1 win & 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
6.6
Rotten Tomatoes:
50%
PG-13
Year:
1995
111 min
967 Views


All right, people, let's go!

Let's go!

Let's go, everybody!

We need your help here!

Come up here! Get in here, get in here!

She's close!

Vitals are down to nothing.

Here you go. Come on.

Let me get in here. You got her?

- We're clear. We're clear.

- I got it.

- All right, lift her up on three. One, two, three. Up.

- Who's hanging blood?

- Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

- Get in there. Get her prepped. Let's move!

Let's go! Let's go!

We need some room!

Spread it out, spread it out!

Let's make a hole! Come on!

- Get a sterile pack!

- Right down the hallway, please!

Let's go! In here!

Anna didn't make it, Greg.

- We tried everything.

The trauma was just too much.

The baby?

The baby, I'm concerned,

might have some abnormalities.

Outwardly, we can already tell

that the child has no pigmentation.

It's called albinism.

It's strictly genetic.

That's, that's-

Well, that's pale skin, right?

And pale eyes that are

usually more light sensitive.

- I want to see him.

- Greg, you have to remember that an unborn child...

experiences everything

that the mother experiences.

You take me to him.

You show me.

We'll do everything we can

for him, Greg. You know that.

What are you doing to him?

We're measuring his brain waves.

You don't have to do this now.

That's not my son.

That's not my son.

- That's not my son.

- Come on, Greg, let's go.

- That's not my son.

- You don't need this. For Christ's sake, let's go.

Not good, Sheriff.

- Jessie.

- Doug.

Thanks for making the drive.

- Are we still in Wheaton County?

- Barely.

- Did I ruin your Sunday?

- Well, I guess if somebody...

was going to have to,

I'm glad it was you.

Doug...

I can hear him again.

- He's movin' around down there.

- Tell me you didn't try to talk to him.

- You bet your ass I didn't.

- Good.

Miss Caldwell.

They said a boy, right?

I'm guessing

that's what it is.

The old man here

died last night.

The neighbors found him this morning.

- We figure the kid's his grandson.

- So where is he?

He won't come up

from the cellar.

He didn't report

his grandfather's death either.

We already know

he died of natural causes.

Doug, what am I doing here?

The neighbors say

he may be retarded.

One of them says deformed.

You know, physically handicapped.

I don't know.

I couldn't for the life of me

think of who else to call.

He's scared enough,

and I thought maybe you could...

come down and talk him out of there without

us having to go down and drag him out.

Jessie... the neighbors talk about him

like he's some kind of a phantom.

I haven't met one yet that

ever had a good look at him.

What are you telling me, Doug?

That the old folks

may have kept him down there...

like some kind of a family secret.

I don't know.

Boy?

I brought somebody to talk to you.

Hello?

Hey, my name is Jessie.

Are you okay down here?

You think we could

turn a light on?

Hey, if you're afraid,

you don't need to be. Not with me.

I'm not afraid.

What's your name?

Powder.

- Is that a name or a nickname?

- He was getting coffee and he fell.

He jus-

He just fell over and died.

I tried to help him.

- I tried. He-

- We know that.

Son, I told you,

you're not in any trouble.

- I'm sorry. I just want to see you.

- Why?

Well, come on. Nobody's gonna hurt you.

It's all right.

Give me your hand.

Come on.

What's your real name, son?

Jeremy Reed.

You've been down here

all night, Jeremy.

You must be starved.

Could you get us something to eat?

Anything. Sheriff?

We'll be all right.

Be right back.

Why didn't you tell anyone

when you knew he was dead?

Why didn't you call the police?

Grandpa said

there would be a day...

when he would die...

like Grandma died.

And that people would come...

and see me...

and try and take me away.

- Get back there. Keep an ear, but don't go down.

- Yes, sir.

Lucy, this is Barnum.

Go ahead, Sheriff. I'm here.

We're still out at the Reeds'. We got

something out here nobody's gonna believe.

- You don't live down here?

- Mmm.

I do most of the work

around the place...

at least until the sun

gets too high.

Then the sunglasses

don't even help.

Did you know they make

contact lenses now...

that can protect your eyes

from the sun all the time?

I read about them, but Grandpa

said they cost too much.

When's the last time

you were in school?

I've never been to school.

I read about it though.

But you said you

read all these books?

And... have you read this book?

Well, I know college kids who

couldn't wade through this one.

Pick a page.

Two hundred and sixteen.

"Where lies the final harbor,

whence we unmoor no more.

"In what rapt ether sails the world

of which the weariest will never weary?

"Where is the foundling's

father hidden?

"Our souls are like those orphans whose

unwedded mothers die in bearing them.

"And the secret of our paternity

lies in their grave,

and we must there learn it."

You know the whole book?

I know 'em all.

- Go clear 'em back.

- All right, everybody, let's move back.

- And I mean back beyond the vehicles. Let's go!

- Okay.

It's all right.

You don't have to be afraid.

You're afraid.

You're afraid for me.

Why don't you get in here.

I'll take that.

You ever see so many goddamn

lightning rods on one house?

I just got off the horn

with the coroner.

He said that old boy died of natural causes,

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Victor Salva

Victor Ronald Salva (born March 29, 1958) is an American film director. He is best known for directing the films Powder, Jeepers Creepers and Peaceful Warrior. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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