Film Teeth

  • Teeth_poster_large

The vagina dentata myth seems an unlikely subject for a campy tale of female empowerment — but that's the setup for Mitchell Lichtenstein's comedy gore-fest Teeth. Jess Weixler gives a Sundance-winning performance as a naïve high schooler who defends herself from sexual assault with a strategically placed pair of chompers. The film's splatter thrills come guilt-free and anti-sexist, as Lichtenstein keeps the potentially exploitative premise on the rails with crafty visuals and, um, biting social critique. From the fear of arousal in 1942's Cat People through the loaded sexuality of '80s slasher flicks, the horror genre has always found new ways to keep gender-studies departments on their toes; add Teeth to the curriculum.

– Stephen Gossett

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