Teeth (2007/I)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Mitchell Lichtenstein

Writer (WGA):

Mitchell Lichtenstein (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 2008 (Singapore)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Every rose has its thorns.

Plot:

Still a stranger to her own body, a high school student discovers she has a physical advantage when she becomes the object of male violence.

Plot Keywords:

Condom | Intercom | Bare Breasts | Bathing Suit | Power Plant

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Jess Weixler	...	Dawn O'Keefe
John Hensley	...	Brad
Josh Pais	...	Dr. Godfrey
Hale Appleman	...	Tobey
Lenny von Dohlen	...	Bill
Vivienne Benesch	...	Kim
Ashley Springer	...	Ryan
Julia Garro	...	Gwen
Nicole Swahn	...	Melanie
Adam Wagner	...	Phil
Hunter Ulvog	...	Little Brad
Ava Ryen Plumb	...	Little Dawn
Trent Moore	...	Mr. Vincent
Mike Yager	...	Elliot
Nathan Parsons	...	Soda Spritzer

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing sequences involving sexuality and violence, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:R21 | UK:18 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R18 | South Korea:18 | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Teeth

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the beginning, in the first shot of dawn in the hallway right after she gives her speech, an extra walking by looks directly and obviously into the camera.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bill: Hey Brad, don't splash your sister.

Movie Connections:

References Put It Wherever 2 (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Far Too Long

Leave it to Beaver!

The trend of imbuing horror films with a quirky sense of irony cribbed from the hell that is adolescence (think "Ghost World" with gore) may have finally run out of steam with "Teeth," a moderately impressive (though unspectacular) yet overly precious and self-aware stab at subverting the genre's gender roles. Writer-director Mitchell Lichtenstein's concept (a puritanical virgin who grows up next to a nuclear power plant discovers a mean set of incisors below the waist when her sexuality blooms) is intriguing, and some of the film's best moments possess a surreal quality that almost transforms the material into a metaphorical extension of Dawn's (Jess Weixler) awkward adjustment to womanhood. While much has been written about gender roles in the horror genre, "Teeth" cleverly manages to have its cake and eat it, too: Dawn is treated as a haplessly naive girl by every male she encounters; the males are predatory, would-be rapists. In films like "I Spit On Your Grave" and "Ms. 45," the female victims recover to enact revenge in an extreme manner--"Teeth" playfully subverts Freud's notion of "penis envy" by transforming male genitalia into a literal kiss of death; Dawn's encounters (while tinged with a sometimes groan-inducing, "Clueless"-styled humor) eventually contribute to her growth and maturity as a woman, to the point where she finally becomes master of her domain. While not great, "Teeth" is a worthwhile little sleeper with some food for thought.