You could never accuse Mitchell Lichtenstein (son of artist Roy) of pandering to market expectations. His first feature, “Teeth,” is a dark, gory and hilarious sendup of contemporary prudery, teen horror films, Christian abstinence programs, rampant cultural misogyny, latent gynophobia and an ancient mythology that plays serial castration for laughs. The movie re-imagines the ancient myth as the mortifying personal problem of a sweet, unsullied American teen who is having a hard time remaining unsullied, and whose awesome powers are as big a surprise to her as they are to her date-raping boyfriend — only not as painful.
Dawn (Jess Weixler) grew up in the shadow of a pair of giant nuclear cooling towers, which may explain why her genitals have developed the ability to fend off intruders with their sharp monster teeth. Of course, Dawn, a Christian, doesn’t believe in evolution, either. (At least, not at first.)
Nor does she have a very clear idea of how things should look “down there”; the diagram of female genitalia in her health book is covered with a giant gold sticker to “preserve a girl’s natural modesty,” courtesy of the state school board. That such things actually exist is far more shocking (and medieval) than any of the rampant dismemberment that follows Dawn’s reluctant induction into sexual maturity.
Jess lives with her groovy and supportive mother Kim (Vivienne Benesch) and stepfather Bill (Lenny Van Dohlen), and her seriously maladjusted stepbrother Brad (John Hensley), who spends all his time in his darkened, porn-lined lair listening to death metal and fighting with his girlfriend.
Dawn speaks in public on the importance of remaining “pure” and lives by her credo, despite getting pelted with food on her way into school each day. Her only friends are Gwen (Julia Garro) and Phil (Adam Wagner), a couple who apparently use abstinence as protracted foreplay. Dawn feels left out until Gwen and Phil introduce her to Tobey (Hale Appleman), a new guy who also happens to have made “the promise.”
Lichtenstein mercilessly skewers the way the evangelical obsession with chastity results in people thinking and talking about sex constantly.
Gleefully perverse as it is, “Teeth” is, at its core, a coming-of-age story about a girl coming to terms with her sexuality. Her sexuality just turns out to be a bit compromised.
Weixler, in her first leading movie role, is perfect as the goofy, vulnerable, deadly teen. Hensley, of “Nip/Tuck” fame, is equally impressive as Brad.
Campy, original and sophisticated, Lichtenstein’s debut is gutsy and original.
“Teeth”
R for disturbing sequences involving sexuality and violence, language and some drug use. Directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein; Starring Jess Weixler, Vivienne Benesch, Lenny Van Dohlen, John Hensley and Hale Appleman. Opens today at Starz FilmCenter.
The Los Angeles Times does not award star ratings with its movie reviews.
