Teeth: First-Time Director Delivers Interesting Film

Dawn (played by Jess Weixler) is a high school student who is adamant about chastity. She works hard to contain her awakening sexuality and has even joined a group of similar-minded youths. It isn't that she doesn't like boys; it's just that she wants to save herself for marriage. Like most girls her age, Dawn is both drawn to her sexuality and confused by it. Brad (played by John Hensley), her adult step-brother is the exact opposite, and can almost be considered a sexual deviant.

Like most oaths, Dawn's is eventually put to the test when she and Tobey, a fellow chastity group member find themselves in a beautiful pool, replete with waterfall. The urges of nature soon overpower Tobey's vow of celibacy and he tries to force himself on Dawn with disastrous results. Screaming in horror, he looks down to find his severed member lying on the ground. Dawn apparently has a set of very sharp teeth inside her vagina!

In total shock and confusion, Dawn visits her gynecologist to help discover just what exactly is happening down there. The unsuspecting and very unlucky doctor also finds himself suffering an unfortunate accident. This sets things up for the rest of the film as Dawn discovers that her unusual features only surface when faced with physical or emotional violence is involved. It's also around this point when Dawn creates a rapport with the audience through the camera and we are able to hear her thoughts through a sort of monologue.

There are several unsavory scenes in this film, especially involving Brad, the step-brother who happens to have a piece of his finger missing. The cause of this maiming is never revealed but it doesn't take a lot of deductive reasoning to figure it out. Without going into too much detail, I'll just say that Brad gets what's coming to him. There are a few other scenes of bad men receiving their just rewards, but I've already given enough of this movie away.

Most people will assume this is just another off-kilter horror/sex flick, but they wouldn't be altogether correct. The characters have some real dimension and depth, which I found surprising. Another surprise was the feel of the film. It wasn't too serious about itself and managed to poke fun at some of the constraints of today's society. Don't get me wrong, this is still a B-movie and will never make it to mainstream theaters. All I'm saying is that for a freshman director, Mitchell Lichtenstein has managed to create something with a few interesting merits. There are some great, classic lines and sight gags that the clever observer will enjoy. This film is obviously rated R for is sexuality, nudity and gore, and there is lots of each. Unless you enjoy this sort of thing, mixed with some very dark and pointed humor, you probably don't want to see this film.