This train wreck came across my desk today. I say train wreck because I wanted to turn away, but couldn't. This trailer was posted on Youtube in November and I wonder if it's legit. Can't be. Can it?
It's definitely real. It cleaned up some strong word of mouth when it played at one of the Aint It Cool News fests last year as well as the AFI fest here in Dallas. Plus its scheduled for a SXSW premier in the next few months. Could be the indie hit of the year. How about trying to type that plot synopsis.
Yeah. As much as I desire to be "on top of things", I think I might miss that one. My one film weakness... I have no tolerance for scary. And I definitely don't want to be haunted every time I look down in the shower! :-P
I think this will sell a lot of tickets based on one question: what will IT look like? I wonder if we'll actually IT, or they'll play it in a Rosemary's Baby kind of way.
I definitely want to see this. Although slightly skirting the classics in this field, this definitely plays into one of my favorite subgenres--the female revenge flick.
As I understand it, an earlier trailer played up the more humorous and satirical angle, but perhaps the movie gurus felt that positioning it as horror would give it more bite.
(like you didn't see that coming)
Which seemed more real when you first saw it, Piper - Teeth or Machine Girl?
It does have its humorous moments (mostly any moment that doesn't have to do with the vagina dentata) and Jess Weixler was wonderful in the lead.
That said, it's a very troubling film, but not in any way the filmmakers intended- the only level on which it's meant to disturb, I think, is for men to grab their crotches and scowl in sympathetic pain. It's very troubling because it's essentially a film that's wall to wall rape. The "revenge" aspect is played up when it's hinted at that Dawn, the main character, seeks out sexual abuse or will allow it to happen, because HA HA HA she's got a secret.
Most, if not all, of the positive reviews I've read of this film were written by men.
When I first read about this in Salon's Sundance coverage, I was curious to see it. But then I had the impression it was a black comedy. Apparently, it isn't. I might put it in my Netflix queue someday, but I'm in no hurry to see it. Count me as one of the people who is seriously creeped out by this trailer.
This reminds me of Nagisa Oshima's In the Realm of the Senses (1977). That was the first time I saw the mass reaction of men to a castration scene. It was pretty interesting (and kinda funny--sorry, guys).
I honestly thought Teeth was fake. Machine Girl felt goofy but I could see someone making this movie. But Teeth... yeah, I can't believe someone shot this movie.
I have to say as someone who has had male genitalia my entire life of nearly thirty-seven years and one who has seen what I'd suspect are more than an average number of movie castration scenes, I've gotta call absolute bullshit on my gender-mates supposed reactions to them.
Not to a scene in which someone is kicked in the groin or hit with a football, although I suspect lots of people overplay their reaction to those scenes, too, honestly, but that's another story.
I think it's like humans watching beheadings, it's gross and whatever, but there's no visceral reaction to be had. It's just too far removed from any experience most of us have actually had... thankfully. I think the "reaction" is a kind of semi-deluded play acting of the reaction people imagine they should have as real men who take their genitals very seriously and seeing something like that... Feh!
As someone who at the age of about 7 got his nethers stuck in his zipper of a new pair of Christmas slacks, I can safely say that I can relate to these scenes and that my reaction is very genuine.
I have never had my teeth broken, but anything related to teeth scares me and that feeling has nothing to do with the movie in question. I'm referring more to the Curbing scene in American History X. I have never had that happen, but I still feel the pain of that scene because the mouth in general and teeth in particular are a soft spot to me. As are my nethers. So while some reactions might be from what Men expect they should do in such a situation because those are the 'family jewels', my reaction is genuine.
That will be great
ReplyDeleteNo, it's real Piper.
ReplyDeleteVagina already scares me. Why oh why do they need to make my Freudian problems even worse???
www.therecshow.com
It's definitely real. It cleaned up some strong word of mouth when it played at one of the Aint It Cool News fests last year as well as the AFI fest here in Dallas. Plus its scheduled for a SXSW premier in the next few months. Could be the indie hit of the year. How about trying to type that plot synopsis.
ReplyDeletejoseph,
ReplyDeleteI don't know... "cleaned up strong word of mouth?" did you have to use that phrase. I might be at SXSW, so I'll look for this freakshow there.
Still can't believe it. When the lights come up and I have eaten all my popcorn, then I can say it's real.
How the hell do you sell this thing?
@ Piper - As a camp classic. That trailer you had there is too serious, methinks. They should play up the humorous angle rather than the "scary" one.
ReplyDeleteYeah. As much as I desire to be "on top of things", I think I might miss that one. My one film weakness... I have no tolerance for scary. And I definitely don't want to be haunted every time I look down in the shower! :-P
ReplyDeleteI think this will sell a lot of tickets based on one question: what will IT look like? I wonder if we'll actually IT, or they'll play it in a Rosemary's Baby kind of way.
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to see this. Although slightly skirting the classics in this field, this definitely plays into one of my favorite subgenres--the female revenge flick.
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, an earlier trailer played up the more humorous and satirical angle, but perhaps the movie gurus felt that positioning it as horror would give it more bite.
ReplyDelete(like you didn't see that coming)
Which seemed more real when you first saw it, Piper - Teeth or Machine Girl?
I saw it. Well, not "it"...I mean the movie.
ReplyDeleteIt does have its humorous moments (mostly any moment that doesn't have to do with the vagina dentata) and Jess Weixler was wonderful in the lead.
That said, it's a very troubling film, but not in any way the filmmakers intended- the only level on which it's meant to disturb, I think, is for men to grab their crotches and scowl in sympathetic pain. It's very troubling because it's essentially a film that's wall to wall rape. The "revenge" aspect is played up when it's hinted at that Dawn, the main character, seeks out sexual abuse or will allow it to happen, because HA HA HA she's got a secret.
Most, if not all, of the positive reviews I've read of this film were written by men.
I love gore, and can handle just about anything. But I don't think I can watch that. I didn't sleep well last night, and it was just a trailer.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read about this in Salon's Sundance coverage, I was curious to see it. But then I had the impression it was a black comedy. Apparently, it isn't. I might put it in my Netflix queue someday, but I'm in no hurry to see it. Count me as one of the people who is seriously creeped out by this trailer.
ReplyDeleteEvery preview I've seen of this movie has scared the bejeezus out of me. Parts of me hurt just thinking about this film.
ReplyDelete"Every rose.... has it's thorn" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of Nagisa Oshima's
ReplyDeleteIn the Realm of the Senses (1977). That was the first time I saw the mass reaction of men to a castration scene. It was pretty interesting (and kinda funny--sorry, guys).
Stacie,
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that me and fam won't be gathering around the fire to watch this anytime soon.
Marilyn,
I'm doubled over in pain to your comment.
Hee hee!
ReplyDeleteI love that teaser trailer. Can't wait for that movie, sound weird and fun, just the way I like them :D
ReplyDeleteBurbanked,
ReplyDeleteI honestly thought Teeth was fake. Machine Girl felt goofy but I could see someone making this movie. But Teeth... yeah, I can't believe someone shot this movie.
I have to say as someone who has had male genitalia my entire life of nearly thirty-seven years and one who has seen what I'd suspect are more than an average number of movie castration scenes, I've gotta call absolute bullshit on my gender-mates supposed reactions to them.
ReplyDeleteNot to a scene in which someone is kicked in the groin or hit with a football, although I suspect lots of people overplay their reaction to those scenes, too, honestly, but that's another story.
I think it's like humans watching beheadings, it's gross and whatever, but there's no visceral reaction to be had. It's just too far removed from any experience most of us have actually had... thankfully. I think the "reaction" is a kind of semi-deluded play acting of the reaction people imagine they should have as real men who take their genitals very seriously and seeing something like that... Feh!
Neil,
ReplyDeleteAs someone who at the age of about 7 got his nethers stuck in his zipper of a new pair of Christmas slacks, I can safely say that I can relate to these scenes and that my reaction is very genuine.
I have never had my teeth broken, but anything related to teeth scares me and that feeling has nothing to do with the movie in question. I'm referring more to the Curbing scene in American History X. I have never had that happen, but I still feel the pain of that scene because the mouth in general and teeth in particular are a soft spot to me. As are my nethers. So while some reactions might be from what Men expect they should do in such a situation because those are the 'family jewels', my reaction is genuine.
holy crap...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.teethmovie.com
ReplyDelete