Starring: Josh Pais, Lenny Von Dohlen, Vivienne Benesch, John Hensley, Jess Weixler Average Rating: Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Weinstein Company Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: May 06, 2008 Running Time: 94 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Product Description: Dawn (Sundance award winner Jess Weixler) is a pretty but prim high school virgin who unknowingly has a set of mutant teeth between her legs. When a supposedly likeminded boyfriend forces himself upon her Dawn's vagina dentata start chomping -- which is just the beginning of "the most twisted story of female empowerment ever told" (DreadCentral.com).System Requirements:Running Time: 94 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR/PSYCHOLOGICAL Rating: R UPC: 796019811750 Manufacturer No: 81175
Amazon.com: A coming-of-age tale with a twist, Teeth takes a novel approach towards teen sexual angst. Sunny blonde Dawn (Jess Weixler, a Meryl Streep in the making) promotes abstinence at her high school. Her mother (Vivienne Benesch) is terminally ill, her half-brother (Nip/Tuck's John Hensley) is a tattooed sociopath, and her stepfather (Lenny von Dohlen) does what he can to keep the household together. When Dawn meets doe-eyed transfer student Tobey (Hale Appleman), her celibacy vow is put to the test. Simultaneously, she starts to realize her anatomy differs from other girls. Though Dawn's Austin environs recall the serene suburbs of Donnie Darko--except for the ominous smokestacks behind the family's ranch house--her secret power brings her closer in line with Carrie. It's a particularly feminine capability. When Carrie felt threatened, she used her mind as a weapon. In Dawn's case, a certain physical anomaly comes into play: the vagina dentata of ancient mythology (Camille Paglia, author of Sexual Personae, served as a consultant on the film). At first, Dawn has no control over the situation and, like De Palma's anti-heroine, she's horrified. But actor-turned-director Mitchell Lichtenstein (Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet), son of artist Roy Lichtenstein, ends his debut on a very different note. Along the way, there's satiric humor, squirm-inducing gore, and a star-making turn from Weixler, recipient of a special prize at Sundance for her "jaw-dropping performance." Teeth is neither anti-male nor anti-female--as some detractors have claimed--but it's definitely not for the squeamish or irony-impaired. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Ouch! Terr Ify Ing `Teeth' is one of those films I must admire while at the same time feel frustrated that such a terrifying concept was not executed better.
I am reminded of Hitchcock's famous quote that a bomb exploding is not suspenseful; a bomb not exploding is suspenseful because we are afraid that it will. `Teeth' gives away too much too soon and provides too many answers. Likewise with the excessive blood, seeing severed body parts is not frightening because we know they're fake. Not showing us lets us imagine an image far worse than anything FX could produce. The unknown is far scarier.
The premise itself is enough to horrify and intrigue one to see this film. In case you haven't figured it out from the trailers and the reviews, `Teeth' tells the story of teenage virgin with vaginal teeth. As I said it gives away too much too soon.
Despite its flaws `Teeth' is absolutely terrifying and passed the horror movie test of causing me to loose sleep. Probably the best element is the characters themselves. These teenagers actually look and act like real teens not horror movie bimbos. Dawn is extremely likable with her down to earth good looks. She doesn't look like she has someone style her hair and make up for 100K every hour. Dawn lives with her mother, stepfather, and scumbag, junkie, punk stepbrother. Dawn's main activity is being the spokes person for promise rings. Children promising to remain chaste (even with themselves) until marriage and boasting a ring to prove it. Most of these children seem far too young to even know what sex is or what they're promising, Dawn is one of the few teens in the organization. Unlike other poorly written films these scenes do not patronizingly mock Christians but adorn them.
Dawn's horrific and inevitable self discovery does not come about as expected. As she and her boyfriend take things further and further the date switches to a rape. That in itself is frightening.
While many critics are placing `Teeth' in the category of shameless blood soaked teen slasher flicks it is far more as it explores the horror concept of becoming that which you most fear. A monster at your door? Kill it. But what if you're the monster? Dawn has no one to turn to. There are no support groups and a trip to a gynecologist becomes a nightmare. It reminded me of `Devil Lady' where people around the world are becoming monsters. Everyone is too frightened of themselves to deal with the problem. How would they deal with it? Her body and her memories will never leave her.
`Teeth's atmosphere is also surprisingly realistic making the impact of the theme all the more terrifying. Similar to `Donnie Darko' or `Carrie' Dawn's life is far from the materialistic teen world of MTV. Dawn already has plenty of real problems.
`Teeth' is extremely disturbing with an enthralling main character. I couldn't take my eyes off it.
As I said my only real frustration with the film is that it had the potential to be twice as good by doing more with less. We don't need all these bloody scenes. The concept itself already has us horrified. All this blood just degrades `Teeth' into the slasher category.
Likewise the opening scene shows the toddler step siblings in a pool where little brother puts his finger where it doesn't belong and gets bitten. I would think this would be more likely to happen to Dawn during the course of her life. This scene is pointless and we do not need to see toddlers sexually molesting each other.
Rational explanations. We are constantly reminded of a nuclear power plant looming above killing Dawn's mother with cancer. While some have said this is symbolic it gives too easy an explanation for why Dawn is deformed. No answer would be far more frightening. Some of the scariest stories ever, never divulged their biggest secrets. `Flowers In The Attic' we never found out how many people were in on holding the children prisoner or why their mother agreed to this. It was about more than money. `The Exorcist' why was Regan possessed? Never revealed. `Battle Royale' how was the villain Kazuo able to withstand deadly gunshots and other wounds without flinching? Never revealed. `V For Vendetta' (the comic not that crappy film) who was V? Was he really Evy's father. I think so, but there was no confirmation.
Watch Out! Cause You're Going to Get a Bite Out of This!!! This is actually the first horror/dark humor movie I would love to buy, that's how good it was. 'Teeth' is amazing! Can you imagine how many rapes would be prevented if all women had a defense mechanism like that?! It's a very dark wishful movie for women, however, it's also men's worst fear...
Wickedly campy! Vagina dentata -this is the premise of Teeth, a delightful little indie flick that had me in stitches. Dawn [Jess Weixler] is a sweet young teenager who advocates celibacy to her peers. She is an average teen except for one thing - her vagina has teeth aka vagina dentata. So, any guy who aspires to deflower the virginal Dawn has quite a hazardous terrain to traverse! Dawn's first serious crush ends in 'tragedy' when the guy gets aggressive whilst out on a date and Dawn 'bites' back. Feeling repulsed by her 'abnormality', Dawn researches her condition and eventually finds that she only bites when the jerks around her try to control and manipulate her [boyfriend, stepbrother, perverted doctor].
I would categorise this movie as a sort of feminist horror movie [if such a category even exists], and the story is indeed fresh though some parts of the execution seem rather over the top. Guys beware - I watched this with my husband, and he winced his way through the movie. The scenes of penile dismemberment are truly gruesome. Yet,one continues to cheer for Dawn [ well-played by Jess Weixler], hoping she will find a way to lead some sort of normal life with her unique anatomical feature - and she does, sort of:) Final verdict - wicked, campy, and entertaining.
crazy camp movie Teeth is about a young girl blossoming into woman hood only to find out she has teeth in the one place no guy wants. What was so funny about this movie was its female lead. She made this movie with her sweet portrayle of the teeth weilding vergin who gives men just what they deserve. Its laughable at times, the docotrs vist for example, but it was a good movie.
COMEDY WITH A BITE There are some movies released that are beyond description. This one comes close. The movie is titled TEETH and it concerns the adventures of a young girl reaching womanhood who...well lets start at the beginning.
Dawn (Jess Weixler) is a young teen who has pledged herself to celibacy. Part of an organization called The Promise, Dawn and her friends have pledged to abstain from sex until they are married, dealing with the ridicule other teens toss their way. The first segment of the film strays into insult territory of groups that make these pledges. But as the film progresses, it makes sense so stick with it.
The pledge to hold on to her virginity becomes more difficult to keep with the arrival of a new boy in town, Tobey (Hale Appleman). The attraction between the two is painfully obvious. Along with another couple, the teens are exposed non-stop to the sensual ads seen on billboards, movies that offer titillation and over exposure to all things sexual. It's only a matter of time before they make the decision to go for it.
But it's not the romance that Dawn expected. They sneak off to a secluded falls notorious for make out couples. Swimming into the cave behind the falls, Tobey begins to struggle with Dawn, resulting in her hitting her head. As he forces himself on her physically she wakes, screams and a crunching noise is heard. When Tobey stands, screaming out loud, we are see he is bleeding and missing the weapon of choice he had used to attack Dawn.
This is where the movie gets its title. Yes, it appears that Dawn has teeth located in her most private of areas. Later in the movie we learn that this is a common tale in mythology known as the vagina dentate (check online, it's real). Unsure of what to do, Dawn returns home leaving the offensive appendage at the cave.
Struggling with what to do, Dawn rides her bike across town to a doctor to be examined. Unfortunately for this doctor, he tends to abuse hid position. This in turn results in Dawn removing several of his fingers.
While all of this is happening, Dawn finds no one to talk to. Her mother is in the midst of dying, her step-father is dealing with the same situation and her step-brother is a totally worthless waste of humanity who thinks only of himself...and of Dawn in an unbrotherly way. Dawn finds comfort in the arms of another young man from school, Ryan (Ashley Springer).
Things go fine between the two as he offers her a consoling ear to listen and a romantic evening that results in her first real experience where nothing happens. But, when he reveals that it was all to win a bet...CHOMP.
How Dawn finally deals with everything from her mother to her step-brother to her own awakening sexuality makes for a funny film. The metaphors of teenage years and dealing with puberty run rampant. Granted it's not for everyone. But fans of films from Troma, off kilter warped comedies, strange movies and more will want to seek this one out.
It does fit the category of the company putting it out (Dimension Extreme) and is most definitely not for children. But if you approach it with an open mind, knowing what to expect, it offers some truly hilarious scenes. Not for the easily offended or squeamish, if something different is what you seek on DVD, then this one is right up your alley.
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