Introducing Teeth (2007) – A Comprehensive Overview

A Bold Horror-Comedy with Feminist Bite

Teeth (2007), written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein in his feature debut, is an American horror-comedy that blends dark humor, feminist commentary, and body horror to create a provocative and unforgettable film. Starring Jess Weixler as Dawn O’Keefe, a teenage girl with a ***, the film explores themes of ***, misogyny, and *** through a daring allegory. Released on January 19, 2007, at the Sundance Film Festival and later in limited theatrical release on January 18, 2008, Teeth shocked audiences with its graphic premise but earned critical acclaim for its bold storytelling and Weixler’s breakout performance. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of the film’s narrative, cast, production, themes, reception, and cultural significance, offering a complete introduction to its enduring cult status.

Synopsis: A Tale of Vengeance and Self-Discovery

Set in a suburban American town, Teeth follows Dawn O’Keefe (Jess Weixler), a shy high school senior who is a fervent advocate for chastity, influenced by her conservative Christian upbringing and her mother’s illness. Dawn lives with her mother, Kim (Vivienne Benesch), stepfather, Bill (Lenny von Dohlen), and stepbrother, Brad (John Hensley), whose aggressive behavior and heavy metal lifestyle unsettle her. Unaware of her unique condition—***, a mythical trait where her ***—Dawn navigates her budding ***uality and the pressures of adolescence.

The story begins as Dawn attends a Christian abstinence group, where she meets Tobey (Hale Appleman), a seemingly kind boy who shares her values. Their attraction grows, but during a moment of intimacy at a local swimming hole, Tobey attempts to *** Dawn, triggering her *** to ***, leaving him to die from blood loss. Horrified, Dawn seeks answers, discovering medical texts about *** and realizing her body’s defensive mechanism. As she grapples with this revelation, further encounters with predatory men—her gynecologist, Dr. Godfrey (Josh Pais), who ***, and a manipulative classmate, Ryan (Ashley Springer)—result in ***, cementing her ***.
Dawn’s home life deteriorates as her mother’s health worsens and Brad’s hostility escalates, culminating in a tragic betrayal when Brad’s inaction leads to Kim’s death. *** by her anger, Dawn begins to embrace her condition, using it deliberately against Brad in a vengeful act after learning of his ***. The film concludes with Dawn hitchhiking, accepting a ride from a lecherous driver (Frank G. Curcio), whose suggestive wink hints at another impending attack, leaving viewers with a darkly comedic sense of her newfound agency.

Running at 94 minutes, Teeth is a genre-blending film that combines visceral horror, sharp satire, and feminist allegory, anchored by Weixler’s compelling performance as Dawn.Running at 94 minutes, Teeth is a genre-blending film that combines visceral horror, sharp satire, and feminist allegory, anchored by Weixler’s compelling performance as Dawn.

Jess Weixler as Dawn O’Keefe: A Star-Making Performance

Jess Weixler, in her first major film role, delivers a captivating and nuanced performance as Dawn O’Keefe, earning the Sundance Special Jury Prize for Dramatic Performance. At 25 during filming, Weixler portrays Dawn with a delicate balance of innocence, terror, and emerging strength, navigating the character’s transformation from a repressed teenager to a self-aware avenger. Her expressive face—wide-eyed fear in early scenes, steely resolve in later ones—conveys Dawn’s emotional arc, making her both relatable and formidable.

Weixler’s comedic timing shines in awkward moments, like Dawn’s abstinence speeches, while her dramatic depth emerges in scenes of trauma, such as the aftermath of Tobey’s assault. Her ability to convey Dawn’s internal conflict—shame over her body versus ***—is particularly striking in the gynecologist scene, where her shock and rage are palpable. Weixler’s chemistry with co-stars, especially John Hensley’s Brad, fuels the film’s tension, with their sibling dynamic ***. Critics, such as The New York Times, praised Weixler for “anchoring the film’s shocks with subtlety,” noting her ability to elevate the horror-comedy premise into a feminist statement.

Weixler’s preparation, as detailed in a 2008 IndieWire interview, involved researching abstinence culture and embracing the role’s physical demands, including prosthetics for the *** effects. Her performance launched her career, leading to roles in The Big Bad Swim (2006) and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (2013), though Teeth remains her defining work, celebrated for its fearless commitment.

Cast and Performances: A Tight Ensemble Amplifying Tension

The supporting cast of Teeth enhances its unsettling tone, with each actor contributing to the film’s satirical and horrific world. John Hensley, as Brad, delivers a menacing performance, his sleazy charm and predatory behavior making him a loathsome antagonist. His scenes with Weixler crackle with tension, particularly in their climactic confrontation, where his comeuppance is both shocking and satisfying.

Hale Appleman, as Tobey, portrays a deceptive “nice guy” whose betrayal sets Dawn’s journey in motion, his shift from charm to violence chillingly effective. Ashley Springer’s Ryan, a manipulative classmate, adds a layer of smarmy entitlement, while Josh Pais’s Dr. Godfrey is disturbingly clinical, amplifying the film’s critique of male authority. Vivienne Benesch, as Dawn’s mother, brings quiet pathos, her illness a somber backdrop, while Lenny von Dohlen’s stepfather, Bill, offers understated support. Smaller roles, like Julia Garro as Dawn’s friend Alisha and Frank G. Curcio as the final driver, add texture to the suburban setting.

The ensemble’s interplay, particularly in family and school scenes, creates a claustrophobic atmosphere, with Weixler’s Dawn as the emotional center. The cast’s willingness to embrace the film’s graphic content, as noted by Variety, underscores their commitment to Lichtenstein’s vision, making the horror both visceral and darkly funny.

Production: Crafting a Genre-Defying Debut

Written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein, son of artist Roy Lichtenstein, Teeth was inspired by the *** myth, explored in feminist theory and folklore, as well as Lichtenstein’s desire to satirize abstinence-only education. Produced by Killer Films and Roadside Attractions on a modest budget of approximately $2 million, the film was shot in 2006 in Austin, Texas, leveraging suburban neighborhoods and industrial sites to create its eerie, timeless setting. The local power plant, looming in the background, adds a menacing visual motif, symbolizing societal ***.

Cinematographer Wolfgang Held employed a muted color palette—grays, greens, and faded yellows—to evoke a sterile, oppressive suburbia, with handheld shots in violent scenes heightening intensity. The score, composed by Robert Miller, blends dissonant strings and quirky percussion, complementing the film’s tonal shifts from comedic to horrific. Special effects, including prosthetics for the ***, were crafted by Christien Tinsley, balancing gore with restraint to maintain an R rating, though the film’s *** pushed boundaries, as noted by The Guardian.
Production faced challenges in securing funding due to the provocative premise, but Killer Films’ Christine Vachon championed the project, drawn to its feminist edge. Casting Weixler, then a Juilliard student, was a coup, with Lichtenstein praising her audition in a 2007 Filmmaker Magazine interview. The film’s low budget necessitated creative solutions, like using practical effects over CGI, enhancing its gritty aesthetic. Premiering at Sundance 2007, Teeth shocked audiences but won praise, securing a limited theatrical release and robust festival run, including Berlin and Deauville.

Themes and Symbolism: ***, ***, and Retribution

Teeth explores themes of ***ual ***, ***, and the consequences of ***, using Dawn’s *** as a feminist allegory. The myth, rooted in folklore about women’s bodies as dangerous, is reimagined as a tool of vengeance, with Dawn’s teeth punishing predatory men. The film critiques abstinence-only culture, portraying it as a source of shame that leaves Dawn unprepared for her ***uality, as discussed in a 2008 Slate review. Her journey from victim to avenger reflects feminist reclamation of bodily autonomy, though some critics, like The Village Voice, noted the risk of reinforcing stereotypes about female ***uality as monstrous.

***is a central target, with each male antagonist—Tobey, the gynecologist, Ryan, Brad—embodying different facets of entitlement, from coercion to medical abuse. The suburban setting, with its cookie-cutter homes and looming power plant, symbolizes conformity and suppressed rage, while Dawn’s *** represents ***, discarded as she embraces her power. The teeth themselves are a dual symbol: a defense mechanism and a source of horror, reflecting society’s fear of female agency, as analyzed in Film Quarterly.

Dawn’s coming-of-age arc, paralleled by her mother’s death and family betrayal, underscores the cost of innocence lost, with her final hitchhiking scene suggesting a cycle of retribution. The film’s dark humor, like Dawn’s deadpan reactions to severed anatomy, balances its horror, aligning with Lichtenstein’s satirical intent.

Reception and Controversy: A Cult Sensation

Teeth received generally positive reviews, earning a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 73 critics and an 80/100 on Metacritic. The New York Times called it “a wickedly funny feminist horror show,” praising Weixler’s “star-making” performance and Lichtenstein’s “assured” direction. Roger Ebert gave it 3 stars, lauding its “audacious originality” but noting its tonal shifts could alienate some. The Guardian hailed it as “a razor-sharp satire,” though Variety found the gore “over-the-top,” potentially limiting mainstream appeal. Common Sense Media rated it 17+ for “***, ***, ***, and language,” warning of its disturbing content.

Audience reactions, as seen in 2008 festival buzz and later Reddit threads, were polarized. Fans like @HorrorFan08 on early forums called it “hilarious and empowering,” while others, like @MovieSqueamish, found it “gross” and “uncomfortable.” The film grossed $347,578 domestically and $2.1 million worldwide in limited release, a modest return reflecting its niche status, but strong DVD and streaming sales, per Box Office Mojo, solidified its cult following.

Controversy centered on the film’s *** and perceived misogyny, with some, like a Salon review, arguing it risked sensationalizing female trauma. Feminist critics, such as those in Bitch Media, debated whether the *** *** Dawn or reinforced monstrous stereotypes, though most praised its subversion of horror tropes. Lichtenstein defended the film as a feminist satire in IndieWire, emphasizing its critique of male predation.

Cultural Significance: A Feminist Horror Landmark

Teeth premiered during a 2000s indie horror boom, alongside Ginger Snaps (2000) and Hard Candy (2005), reflecting a trend of feminist genre films tackling ***ual violence. Its release coincided with debates about abstinence-only education in the U.S., making Dawn’s story a timely critique, as noted in The Atlantic. Weixler’s performance, lauded as a “feminist icon” by Vulture, elevated the film’s profile, influencing later horror heroines like those in It Follows (2014).

The film’s suburban setting and Christian backdrop tapped into cultural anxieties about *** and hypocrisy, resonating with post-Bush era skepticism of conservative values. Compared to Paprika (1991), previously discussed, which explores ***uality through ***, Teeth uses horror-comedy to confront similar themes of female agency, both centering young women (Weixler, Caprioglio) navigating societal judgment. Teeth’s global cult status, fueled by Blu-ray releases and streaming on Shudder, reflects its enduring relevance, with 2025 X posts like @vibe_trib3 praising its “biting” humor.

Teeth influenced feminist horror, inspiring films like Raw (2016) and Promising Young Woman (2020), which also tackle ***ual retribution. Its academic analysis, in journals like Horror Studies, underscores its role as a genre touchstone, while fan discussions on Letterboxd celebrate its “***” legacy.

Legacy and Availability

Teeth remains a bold, divisive cult classic, celebrated for Jess Weixler’s performance and Mitchell Lichtenstein’s audacious vision, though debated for its graphic content. Its 2008 DVD and 2014 Blu-ray releases, including a Shout! Factory edition with commentary, are collector favorites. Academic analyses explore its feminist and horror credentials, while Letterboxd reviews, like @CultHorror’s “empowering gore-fest,” highlight its niche appeal.

As of May 21, 2025, Teeth is available for streaming on Shudder, Tubi, and Prime Video (subject to regional availability), with English subtitles. Rental and purchase options exist on Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Physical copies are available through retailers like Amazon and Shout! Factory.

Conclusion: A Sharp, Unforgettable Horror-Comedy

Teeth (2007) is a daring, genre-defying film that sinks its teeth into issues of ***, misogyny, and *** with dark humor and feminist ferocity. Mitchell Lichtenstein’s direction, paired with Jess Weixler’s transformative performance, crafts a horror-comedy that shocks, amuses, and provokes. While its graphic premise divides viewers, its sharp satire and cultural resonance ensure its place as a cult gem, rewarding those who embrace its biting vision.

For fans of horror-comedy, feminist cinema, or bold indie debuts, Teeth offers a thrilling, unforgettable bite—one that leaves a lasting mark on the genre and its audience.