Dir. Mitchell Lichtenstein | Streaming On Tubi | Rating: 3/5

Teeth has to be one of the most influential and prominent horror comedies to come out in the post 2000s era. I’ve avoided it for quite some time, just due to lack of interest in the subject material. But after taking a deep dive with our friends over at Horror Through Her Eyes Podcast, I knew this was due for a full review. 

Teeth is a clever tongue in cheek commentary on the sexual commodification of women and a response to contemporary rape culture. What makes this film a controversial and interesting addition to the feminist horror resume is that it is written and directed by a man. Now, this doesn’t inherently infer that the film is not legitimate or good, it just impacts the authenticity of the storytelling. 

What stood out for me on this first watch was just how dark this comedy really was. Most of the parts I was supposed to be laughing at, I found to be too disturbing to actually laugh at. The situations that Dawn encounters in the film are just too close to real life, and unfortunately, too common in real life, for me to reasonably find humor in them. Lichtenstein is a calculated writer, and makes use of carefully planned visuals and character development to set women and men very far apart in this film. The subtle weaving in of evolution as a concept for survival is poignant and smart. 

Ultimately, Teeth’s biggest weakness is that it did not age well. I would guess that much of this humor would be dead on arrival for most modern audiences. The gender binary is so in your face in this story, and neglects to acknowledge that gender, sexuality, and identity are very rarely so dichotomous. Granted, we’re talking about a stoner comedy from 2007. 

Lacking diversity and staying power, but strong in its creativity, Teeth is an icon in its own right but may be due for a modernized reboot. 

Know Before You Watch: Features death, blood, gore, sexual assault, nudity, sex.