Teeth

Teeth is certainly original in it's concept and it's delivery. It starts off very promisingly. It establishes it's mood promisingly, and I have to say, I did not expect what I got. The film is about a young girl who is keen on abstinence, but after she discovers her vagina has teeth, she uses it to target to those who plan to sexually use her. That is the basic story, but the film only gets to that in it's last half hour. It is supposed to be a horror comedy, and I have seen a lot of horror comedies. Evil Dead 2, Drag Me To Hell, Cabin Fever, and to a lesser extent, Scream. The horror aspects and comedy aspects worked in all of those, yet here, the tone is so different. I expected more comedy, yet even when the funny parts happen, it does not seem like a comedy, or even a horror. I do not know if this is a product of it being a truly unique film, or just that the comedy aspects of it failed. I thought the first half of the film was more successful, because I did not know what the film was about when I started seeing it, so I thought it would be about the girl finding her sexuality after being raped, so when the actual plot kicked in I was so shocked. I was shocked because the film's first 30 minutes establish it as some sort of dark drama, neither horror or comedy. I felt as if the film did a complete 360 and all of the ideas it put in my head earlier were erased to make room for the 'comedy' section that it wanted to have, as well as the horror aspects. I also thought it should have been longer if it really wanted to explore more about her and her vagina, since like I said, the actual plot does not kick in until almost an hour into the film. But that is not to say I did not like the film. I did like it, probably more than it seems right now. Some of the writing was very clever, and it reminded me of Diablo Cody's form of writing (in both Juno and Jennifer's Body). Some of the scenes in the first half, especially the one in the cave where all goes wrong, was very brutal and, like I said already, shocking because I did not expect that. Jess Weixler was another highlight of the film. I thought she started off sort of awkward, but I get that was her character, and she completely pulled off her change in character. I never thought of her as sexy at all, and yet the last scene I was like 'WOW look at her'! Of course, this was all because of her acting skills. The ending was unsatisfactory because I felt this film had so many ideas and themes it could have explored more, yet it was just happy wit itself for being a 'vagina revenge film'.

Overall, I did like this film, but it is so difficult for me to grasp on it completely, just because I do not know if it is a product of the film's quality, or lack of quality, that it's tone is so unusually dark for a film about vagina teeth. Also because I find it harder to enjoy without it being a funnier film, and because I thought it could have explored so much more on female sexuality. I saw this film because I heard it had some of the same concept of the newer horror-comedy Jennifer's Body. I can say that while this film did have darker and more interesting themes (than Jennifer's Body) about female sexuality and purity in the beginning, it all seemed to vanish for the most part to a still enjoyable, but lesser film whose fundamental question is 'Next time I am with a girl, should I be scared that my genitals will be chopped off'? But I am sure I will not forget this film simply because of it's originality.

I was a little worried about this going in, even as I loved the joke that was the premise: a vagina with razor sharp fangs inside the walls. How much could be done with something like this? As I found out, a lot more than I expected, but especially surrounding it as a nifty satire on the world of abstinence pledgers in high schools. There can never be enough room to make fun of these 'abstinence-only' folk who wear the "Promise Rings" and are amid a self-made desensitized cult that, in essence, dissuades those who do have romantic connections from giving in to their desires. And there's mythology to boot!

If anything, the burgeoning relationship between Dawn (Jess Weixler) and Tobey (Hale Appleman) shouldn't be something they should ever have to avoid. But they do for "purity" sake, despite each others' curiosity about each other's bodies. The first attack is the most savage, and perhaps though the most anticipated, and with a sweet twist: it's a shock to each of them, as she has no idea what is "down there" (all the sex-ed textbooks have the vaginal area censored, this despite the penis right in diagram, a possible reference to how it turns out in visual-style in the picture as men may grab their crotches in unified pain).

To be sure, some of the satirical jabs and slight plot twists aren't totally effective. While the brother character (effectively played as scum by John Hensley) is needed to move the plot along at a crucial point, there's never much explanation to how he's such a sex-psycho with a big dog. There's also a touch of familial drama that feels a little forced (though, again, as part of disbelief that must be upheld throughout). What I liked, and at times even loved, as the pure abandon, like a talented filmmaker tackling the sexploitation genre with some juicy under-cutting to the society that this springs out of. Somehow this guy in his 50s- his first feature no less after years of acting gigs- has crafted some of the funniest penis jokes that could never be fathomed by, um, most people. To say it's a guilty pleasure doesn't do it justice, be it the most obvious jabs or the visual gags and symbolism (the cave opening, the phallic rocks, etc).

One more note: this is truly a "breakout" performance as Weixler plays Dawn for all its worth as a character who truly has an "arc", if you could call it that. Whether it's the sexually confused innocent early in the film, to the totally mind-f****d soul who realizes an old myth called Vagina Dentata may be why she has this via nuclear radiation, and then onward as someone who can use that tunnel of love for all its worth. She's someone to look out for in the indie world, and leads this film along like it's worth every minute. 7.5/10

The premise alone can speak for the originality of the movie. Most audiences will be rushing to this film out of sheer curiosity, I know I did. While this movie is graphic, the conflicting tones of horror and comedy give it a playfulness and a freshness that any true movie-lover could appreciate. Now, its not by any means the best movie ever or the funniest or most horrific but it shines its light. The story and characters are all cheesy/campy but thats what gives this movie its charm. Its almost like whats going on is so absurd and awful and awkward you have no choice but to laugh! I don't recommend this film to the faint of heart but if you are in the mood for something new and will keep you talking for weeks, then I say this is the film for you. If anything, just to say you saw it is quite enough for most people. Women, you'll appreciate it more than you think. Men, you'll be more careful out there in the real world.

This is an independent film that has not one actor or actress I have ever heard of, but, wow, is it original! The characters don't even have last names in their credits. They are just Dawn, Tobey, Bill, etc.

Dawn is a high school girl who has taken a pledge of chastity until marriage. She is a classical beauty, a rather Scandinavian looking girl. She has a wastoid of a stepbrother (her stepdad's son) who spends his time sleeping, having rampant casual sex with a slew of girls, and keeping a "pet" attack dog in a cage in his room.

Well, unfortunately, Dawn's first sexual experience, with a boy who seems so nice and so sweet on her, turns into assault with devastating effects on the boy, that being death. Dawn is at first horrified by what has happened, does some internet research, and realizes she has "teeth" down there. At first she feels like this is some kind of punishment, some kind of chastity belt, but then she realizes that these teeth only attack when she feels violated. As she learns to control these "teeth" she begins to feel empowered. And although the journey is unpredictable, the destination is entirely predictable from about a quarter of the way into the film. That's the reason I don't give it an eight.

There is not an over abundance of gore, just enough so that you see what happened. I will say the film does have men coming off as very opportunistic, either that or Dawn is the unluckiest girl in the history of the world. And the film has one quirky gimmick. Throughout the film you see two towers of a nuclear power plant. The assumption you might make is that Dawn has this physical feature from growing up in the plant's shadow. But not one word is ever spoken about it. That's what makes it great. The film doesn't lecture you about anything that happens here. It just tells a story and leaves the viewer to draw their own conclusions, and it really works as a dark comedy/horror combo. I'd recommend it.

Playing into the male fear of castration is what adds the horror element into the movie. I would argue that the premise alone makes this movie worth seeing. Although the film doesn't take itself too seriously (which is a good thing in my opinion) it still explores the idea of sexual freedom for women as having vangina dentata would make women immune to sexual abuse. As near the end of the movie Dawn realizes that what she thought was a curse can be gift as well. In short; it is a good horror movie with a side of dark humor that explores the themes of chastity, sexual abuse and pubenscence.