Powder (1995)

Being a fan of super-heroes and people with exceptional powers, the back flap of Powder appealed to me greatly. After all, a story about an albino boy gifted with exceptionally high intelligence, telekenesis and electrical powers is right up my street. I enjoyed the film but it’s not a good one.

‘Powder’ is the nickname given to Jeremy Reed thanks to his rather startling ashen appearance with white powdery-looking skin and red eyes. From the day he is born, it is clear that there’s something more special about the boy than simply his appearance. Barely a day old, his brainwaves show extreme cerebral activity indicating that he understands what is happening around him.

The rest of the film takes centres around Powder as a teenager when he is found in the cellar of his deceased grandparents’ house. Jessica Caldwell (Mary Steenburgen) places the soft-spoken Jeremy in her school for homeless boys with all the predictable bullying consequences ensuing. Powder demonstrates some of his powers, both scaring and fascinating those around him and making many enemies. Meanwhile all he wants to do is go home – but there is no home for him anymore.

The first thing that annoyed me about the film was the melodramatic score. The opening credits are so sentimental that it feels decidedly cheesy from frame one. The plot is original and cliché at the same time if you can imagine that. I am a sucker for characters with a good heart and powers such as his, so I liked seeing him do his stuff (‘coz it really was cool stuff), but director Salva goes a little too far in depicting Powder as an enlightened messiah and those around him as Neanderthal retards.

Jeff Goldblum is his old, endearing self as the friendly and fascinated science teacher who conveniently explains his theories about Powder out loud, enabling the audience to understand not only more about Powder but also Einstein’s theories on energy. Understanding those theories are actually quite essential to understanding that the end of this film is a happy one.

When it comes down to it, there are two words with which to describe this film: ‘sickly sweet’. Watch it if you have a soft spot for people with super-powers and want the inhumanity of humanity portrayed in a 112 minute nutshell, but don’t expect a masterpiece by any means. It’s a shame really as the plot had so much more potential. Perhaps a remake will be better someday.

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