The Ray Bradbury Theater (TV Series) Let's Play Poison (1992) User Reviews

A pretty big waste of time, no payoff

[calsinic · 4/10 · 27 August 2013]

The only reason I didn't give this the lowest score possible was the ending is certainly very creepy & disturbing. However it doesn't make up for how little the story rewards you for sticking with it. It is:

1. Awful thing happens to good student 2. Teacher retires from teaching because of awful thing 3. Teacher is promised that things have changed at school & returns 4. Awful thing happens to teacher for no discernible reason

I'm not sure if maybe the original story had more of an explanation for what happens, but this seems to be another Ray Bradbury story that for some reason the theme is "Kids can be evil & there is no stopping them".

He Deserved More

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 3 April 2015]

A sweet little boy is harassed and attacked at school, just for being smart and kind. His teacher feels helpless to protect him, realizing that this would lead to more abuse. Unfortunately, the boy is killed by a car as he pursues one of the bullies. His teacher quits, thinking that children are evil. He is talked back by a new principal and then begins an assault on his students. He is horribly bitter and spews all kinds of venom but with some justification. If there were some sort of justice or retribution for what was done, the story would have had legs. But the kids are as evil as he suspects. They launch an attack on him and act as a pack. I'm never sure where Bradbury stood on children because sometimes they are portrayed as victims; other times they are shown to be our worst nightmare. I was really dissatisfied with this episode One thing that needs saying. This is so far fetched and unrealistic it is laughable.

Wait! That's the ending?

[dewilliams30 · 4/10 · 24 November 2022]

Definitely a waste of time. No one wants to see bullies in every generation get away with inflicting both mental and physical harm. The children and then the construction workers. What was the point of the story? That's been missing in a lot of these episodes- the point. There's no justification and or satisfying ending to the episodes. I love anthology series but most of the episodes in this series has left a bad taste in my mouth. This is season 6 so we're near the end I'm hoping the episodes improve so I didn't waste too much of my time watching this series. I thought this series would be a great watch boy was I wrong.

Really?

[africe · 1/10 · 25 August 2019]

Come on Bradbury! This is the worst episode yet. I've recently started watching ray bradbury theater and am terribly disappointed with his writing. I used to think he was one of the better writers but as I view these I find he is obsessed with mars and leaves his stories somewhat lacking. I'm not sure if he hates children or is afraid of them but it seems they are mostly portrayed as evil. This episode proves it. A better story would have been to bring the bullied child's spirit back to scare these bullies straight. I've lost respect for Bradbury

Teacher no match for bad children!

[blanbrn · 7/10 · 19 November 2020]

This "Ray Bradbury Theater" episode from season 5 number 7 called "Let's Play Poison" is a morality tale one of revenge and turnabout. It involves some school age kids who bully a young boy so much to the point that he departs for good. A teacher Mr. Howard(Richard Benjamin) remembers it and decides to take action against kids only things don't work out as planned. Overall this episode is written okay it doesn't really twist with any surprises still it has drama and tension build up not one of the best still it's a watch for it's concept and ideals just like many episodes of the series.

"Come and get it, pet!"

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 22 February 2022]

Like this could ever happen! Who dug that hole? How did no one ever see the hole being dug? It was in full view on a village street. I understand the revenge motive on the part of the kids, but where would you find a group of them so evil they would actually plot the murder of their teacher? This didn't seem to be a well suited story for Ray Bradbury or his anthology series. Maybe for 'Tales From the Crypt', but not here. It just stretched credibility too much. Like Mr. Howard (Richard Benjamin) in the story, this one can Rest in Peace.