Because of the advance buzz that's been building for the movie, there wasn't a seat to be found at the Yarrow for the film's screening as many journalists and critics were curious to know whether the film, which was part of the festival's dramatic competition, would live up to the hype.

But first, a suitably placed short called Songbird by John Thompson, who by chance I had met in the press lounge a few days earlier. It's a twisted piece of work about a woman being terrorized by her husband and what she does to get revenge. It has a pretty unique look and feel, done almost like an old silent movie, but in color. I don't want to say too much about it, except that you can learn more at the film's website and download it on iTunes. At the same time I met John, I spent sometime chatting with Jack Hunter, the male lead of his short, who does some awful things in the short but is a really nice guy in person. He had just moved to L.A. from Buffalo before starring in John's short, which was financed by USC.

Then it was onto the big show. Teeth takes place in a small idyllic suburb with a nearby nuclear power plant looming ominously in the background. Dawn, played by newcomer Jess Weixler, is leader of a group called The Promise, who have sworn themselves to abstinence from sex. When Dawn meets the dreamy Toby, they both have to resist the temptation, as she starts having second thoughts about her sacred vow. When Toby forces himself onto her during a rendezvous in a cave, the fun begins as her genital defense mechanism claims its first victim, and she starts realizing maybe she's not normal down there.

While the notion of a carniverous vagina makes for some great horror and humor, Lichtenstein seems to be going more for a spin on the typical coming-of-age story. He certainly knows how to play the premise up for great laughs in building up to each time those jaws snap shut with lots of subtle hints and visual gags that will get a chuckle from those who know the premise going into the movie.

Although Teeth is by no means a typical horror film--it takes almost 40 minutes to start going down that road--it does show a lot of nasty and very graphic gore in terms of the victims of Dawn's defense mechanism. Still, a lot of it is played up for laughs as much as it is meant to get "Ewwws." The movie does go on for maybe 10 more minutes than it should and has a few creepy subplots involving Dawn's incestuous evil brother Brad, but it keeps the viewer entertained with its strong mix of suspense and humor.

Jess Weixler is an amazing find, looking a bit like a teen Uma Thurman with equal talent to a young Reese Witherspoon or Alicia Silverstone, and she does a good job with this innocent girl who starts freaking out when she learns of the implications of her anatomical mutation.

I have a feeling that men and women will react differently to this movie and its premise. While men are likely to be very creeped out, women might find themselves getting behind Dawn and relating to her situation. That said, it's not exactly "date night" material, since I doubt anyone will be having sex for a while after seeing it.

There's enough horror elements in Teeth that we can probably expect someone like Lionsgate to be one of the top bidders because it's right up their alley, but I wish the best of luck to whomever tries to get this movie an R-rating!