Dawn is anything but your average teenager. A leading member of her high school's chastity club, Dawn has sworn off sex until marriage. But when she meets Tobey she loses the battle against temptation and abstinence. However the biggest revelation isn't the event itself but rather the discovery that Dawn is a living example of the vagina dentate myth "“ her vagina has teeth. At first Dawn struggles to comprehend her "˜abnormality' but is forced to live with and control her power as she experiences both the benefits and drawbacks of this strange "˜defect.'
While the story and direction were remarkably fresh and unique, Teeth suffers from inadequate acting and an over use of funny, gross out moments as it clearly takes its place as a cult classic.
My first major criticism is with the film's star. Jess Weixler, who plays the film's hero Dawn, takes the perfect role and squashes it. Poised with the opportunity to give women their ideal hero, to be a force of nature and to truly scare the hell out of every man in the audience Weixler had the opportunity to be an icon; instead she was dull and boring. Plagued by forced lines, premeditated actions and a deadening lack of emotion Weixler took a role that many women would die for and ran in into the ground, failing to offer any signs of female empowerment.
With that said I do want to commend John Hensley who plays Dawn's step-brother Brad. Through his screen time is short lived his attitude, tone and strong sense of rebellion brings the polar opposite of Dawn to life, showing us that some apples do fall far from the tree.
I do want to compliment the story. Taking a myth such as this and creating a satiric horror film is brilliant, and if it weren't for a few cast members it would have been pulled off flawlessly. In addition the direction by Mitchell Lichtenstein was great. The emotions and insanity of the situation were captured perfectly as you got to take a roller coaster ride of insecurity, discovery and ultimately acceptance in this tale of woman empowerment.
In the end Teeth had an enormous amount of potential was plagued by its cast and ultimately only delivered on about half of it. But I must say that a film such as this doesn't come around very often, so don't miss your chance to see what is sure to be one of the most unique and cultish films of 2008.
