TEETH
US, 2007, 88 minutes, Colour.
Jess Weixler, John Hensley, Josh Pais, Hale Appleman, Lenny Von Dohlen, Vivienne Benesch, Ashley Springer.
Directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein.
This is a curio film.
Only 80 minutes, it starts as a wry look at US abstinence groups and their stances as well as the ridicule their sincerity is exposed to.
Then it makes us realise that members of such groups and their protective parents can create a false morality, a fragility of moral sense that is too rigid and easily fractured. As the central character, Dawn, played by Jess Weixler, discovers her own sexual feelings, she also discovers that, gynaecologically speaking, she is a modern day example of an ages-old myth about castrating women – though the writer-director says that he is not misogynistic and wants to make the point that the woman in herself is not aggressive or rapacious but her destructive bite is directed only towards aggressive and rapacious men. In fact, most of the men of the same age are presented as hedonistic and self-centred.
After that, the film becomes something of a black comedy as the girl uses her sexuality as a weapon against the aggressors. And then it ends.
Many ordinary audiences might find the film (and some of its visuals) too confronting. However, by using what on the surface looks like a typical film about teens and their problems, Mitchell Lichtenstein wants to make the audience think about sexual behaviour and relationships – and both laugh in disbelief and feel uncomfortable in the process.
1.The impact of the film? Comic? Serious? Unpredictable? Its purpose – entertain, message?
2.The use of a mythology, age-old, women, sexuality, men, castration, fears?
3.The small American town, homes, assemblies, the woods and the river, the open road? Realism?
4.The surreal aspects of the film, the introduction to Dawn and Brad, the physiology, Tobey, Brad? The visuals after the castration?
5.The serious and the humorous? Spoof? Critique? The vengeance movie?
6.Brad and Dawn, as children playing, their mother and father, Brad and his resentment towards his father for marrying? Dawn and her relationship with her mother? The playing, Brad’s sexual approach, Dawn’s reaction, his finger?
7.The portrait of the rallies, the chastity groups, their enthusiasm, the young children, the chorus, their slogans? Dawn and her speeches? Her early enthusiasm? A cause? Depth or shallowness? The change, her awareness of herself, sexuality, the critique? The spoof of the styles?
8.Dawn at home, the good girl, nice, the contrast with Brad, his appearance, his room, his relationship, sexuality, music? His resentment? The portrait of the parents, their loving each other, the mother and her cancer, her collapse (and Brad ignoring it and his girlfriend ignoring it – and the girl’s apology later)? The hospital sequences, her death? The father, clashing with Brad, Brad setting his dog on him?
9.Tobey, nice, the date, the discussion about chastity, suppressing feelings? Dawn and her being taunted by the boys, by Brad? The mockery? Going for the swim, Tobey and his change, Dawn’s resistance, the biting, the images? Tobey’s body, discovering it, the effect on Dawn?
10.Dawn, the police, at home, the meetings and her fears, opting out of the groups, disillusionment?
11.Ryan, offering the date, Dawn’s rejection, Brad bashing him? The later date, the sexual encounter, Dawn happy, his character, being seductive? The phone call and his boasting? Dawn and her destroying him? The images? The doctors and their comment?
12.Doctor Godfrey, Dawn and her examination, his being reassuring, her fears, his being bitten, getting his finger sewn back?
13.Dawn and her new consciousness, her mother’s death, her brother and his come-on, lewdness, her leading him on, her vengeance?
14.Dawn leaving, on the road, the lewd driver, the final image – and Dawn’s threats?
15.The emotional response to the film, shock and humour? The meanings? What was the audience left with?
