Movie: Teeth (2008)
Synopsis: A high-school student struggling to suppress her budding sexuality
makes a startling discovery about her womanhood after becoming the victim of
sexual violence in director Michael Lichtenstein's semi-surreal exploration of the
vagina dentata myth. Dawn (Jess Weixler) is a proud virgin and the most active
member of her local chastity group. Though she struggles with every ounce of her
willpower to resist the pleasures of the flesh, Dawn finds her noble efforts to remain
chaste repeatedly challenged by her disturbed stepbrother, whose provocative
advances are becoming increasingly difficult to resist. When Dawn is sexually
assaulted and discovers that her vagina actually has teeth, she struggles to
comprehend her anatomical anomaly while experiencing both the benefits and
drawbacks of this strange new revelation.
Story Structure:
I.Exposition:
Dawn, a teenage spokesperson for a Christian abstinence group called The Promise.
She attends groups with her two friends, Alisha and Phil.
II. Rising Action
One evening after giving a speech about the purity ring worn by members of the
group, she is introduced to Tobey and finds him attractive. The four begin going out
as a group. Dawn has fantasies about marrying Tobey, although after
acknowledging the attraction, they agree that they cannot spend time together.
Soon after they give in and meet at a local swimming hole. After swimming
together, they go in to a cave to get warm and begin kissing. Dawn gets
uncomfortable and tries to get them to go back. Tobey then attempts to rape Dawn,
who panics and tries to push him off. Tobey becomes aggressive and shakes Dawn,
resulting in her smacking her head on the ground. While she is dazed, Tobey takes
the opportunity to begin raping her. Dawn fights back and inadvertently bites off his
penis with her vagina. A horrified Dawn stumbles away and she flees the scene.
III. Climax
Dawn then researches "vagina dentata" and realizes she may have it. She visits a
gynecologist, Dr. Godfrey (Josh Pais), in an attempt to find out what is happening to
her. When he assaults her in the guise of an examination, reaching up inside her
without a glove, she panics and her vagina bites off all four fingers on his right
hand.
Her ill mother Kim O'Keefe collapses. Dawn's stepbrother Brad and his girlfriend
Melanie hear her collapse but ignore her, continuing to have sex while she lies on
the floor. Dawn's mother is taken to the hospital.
Dawn goes to Ryan seeking help and the two successfully have sex. The following
morning they have sex again, but mid-coitus Ryans friend calls. Ryan smugly
boasts that he and the friend had bet on whether he could score with Dawn. In her
anger, her vagina bites off his penis, and she leaves him to call his mother for help.
IV. Falling Action
Dawn learns her mother has died, leading her stepfather Bill to attempt to throw
Brad out, but Brad sets his dog on Bill. Dawn meets her stepfather and Melanie at
the hospital and, emboldened by her power, she goes back home to seek revenge.
Dawn puts on make-up and goes to seduce her stepbrother. In the midst of the act,
Brad recalls that, while still kids, Dawn bit his finger, but it was not her mouth that
bit him. As he realizes this, Dawns vagina bites off his penis. She releases it on the
ground and Brads dog eats it, spitting out the glans and genital piercing. Dawn
leaves him whimpering and maimed on his bed.
Dawn cycles away from home, but her bike tire sustains a puncture, so she begins
hitchhiking. She gets a lift from an old man, but falls asleep and rides for several
hours, waking up after nightfall. When she tries to get out, he repeatedly locks the
doors. He licks his lips as if to ask for a sexual favor to release her; Dawn hesitates,
and then looks towards the cameraand the old manwith a seductive smile
