Powder
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Synopsis
An albino teenager who possesses an off-the-charts intellect, electromagnetic energy, and profound telepathic empathy is discovered living in a cellar and forced into a hostile small-town community.
Plot
Following the death of his grandfather on an isolated Texas farm, Sheriff Doug Barnum and county youth home administrator Jessie Caldwell discover Jeremy Reed, a hairless albino teenager who has lived his entire life in a basement reading through libraries of books. Nicknamed “Powder” due to his stark white skin, he was born prematurely after his pregnant mother was struck by lightning. Jessie places Powder in a state boys’ home, where his pale appearance makes him an immediate target of brutal bullying from hostile residents like John Box.
Powder soon reveals astonishing paranormal abilities: he possesses off-the-charts intelligence, attracts electrical charges, and can feel the thoughts and physical pain of living beings. High school science teacher Donald Ripley becomes fascinated by Powder’s miraculous intellect and electromagnetic field during a class demonstration. For further deep dives into 90s cinema, streaming options, and film retrospectives, check out MovieToWatch. However, fear and prejudice mount in town as a local deputy shoots a deer, prompting Powder to force the hunter to feel the animal’s agony through physical contact. Despite forming a tender bond with local student Lindsay Kelloway, Powder finds himself increasingly overwhelmed by the cruelty, fear, and emotional hatred of the world around him.
Ending Explained
Powder uses his empathic connection to help Sheriff Barnum comfort his terminally ill, comatose wife by channeling her thoughts and letting Barnum know how much she loves him before she passes away. Despite the miraculous gifts he demonstrates, hostile residents and boys from the shelter attack Powder, strip him, and leave him traumatized in the woods.
Desperate to return home to his family’s farm where he felt safe, Powder discovers that the bank has foreclosed on the property and cleared out his belongings. Jessie, Donald Ripley, and Sheriff Barnum arrive in their car to find him, hoping to protect him and help him find peace. Seeing them approach across an open prairie, Powder turns and sprints across the grassy field during an incoming thunderstorm. As thunder roars overhead, a massive bolt of lightning strikes Powder directly. Instead of being killed or leaving behind a body, Powder dissolves into pure blinding electrical energy, merging seamlessly with the sky and dissipating across the landscape. Stunned, Jessie, Donald, and Barnum watch the storm clear into gentle sunlight, realizing Powder has finally returned home to the pure energy from which he came.
What We Think About This Movie
What We Liked
Jerry Goldsmith's soaring, orchestral musical score.
Sean Patrick Flanery's committed physical and empathetic performance under extensive makeup.
Strong supporting turns from Lance Henriksen and Jeff Goldblum trying to elevate the material.
What We Didn't Like
Overwrought, manipulative melodrama that beats the audience over the head with its message.
Predictable small-town outcast tropes where nearly every local is cartoonishly cruel.
Plot contrivances and unconvincing character reactions to supernatural occurrences.
Sappy, unearned romantic subplots designed solely to elicit cheap sentiment.
Who Should Watch
Fans of high-concept 1990s supernatural dramas like Phenomenon.
Viewers who enjoy emotional outcast stories exploring empathy, telepathy, and difference.
Admirers of Jeff Goldblum and Lance Henriksen in supporting dramatic roles.
Who Should Skip
Anyone allergic to heavy-handed moralizing and melodramatic tearjerkers.
Viewers looking for tight, scientifically grounded science fiction rather than mystical fables.
Movie Details
Where to Watch Powder in the USA
Frequently Asked Questions About Powder
What makeup was used to create Powder's appearance?
Makeup artists Thomas Burman and Bari Dreiband-Burman used custom airbrush makeup formulas that took up to three and a half hours each day to apply to Sean Patrick Flanery's entire body.
Who played the character Powder?
Sean Patrick Flanery played Jeremy "Powder" Reed, earning an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance.
Where was Powder filmed?
Principal photography was conducted on location across Texas, including areas around Houston, Sugar Land, and Wharton.
