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Yes, there are spoilers. Yes, I am sorry. But beware, spoilers for Night Teeth in the section: “Introducing Night Teeth’s Acting.” (Specifically)
As soon as I saw the trailer for Night Teeth (Netflix Entertainment 2021, dir. Adam Randall), I was intrigued by its potential. The poster and the synopsis piqued my interest the most; a new-age take on vampires? Yes, please! Having had no expectations of the film or what it really was, or even who starred in it beyond the obvious, I was eagerly anticipating watching Night Teeth with an open mind.
As a result, I enjoyed this film very much, since it presents an intriguing perspective on vampires in a postmodern and hyperpostmodern world, and is a compelling thriller that stands out among my favorites for the year — apart from There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021), this film is on par with the best. Netflix has released a wide range of movies this year, but Night Teeth is one of their best thrillers to date (although subjective, I think this is a terrific film). Night Teeth is directed by Adam Randall (screenplay by Brent Dillon) and stars Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry, Raúl Castillo, and Alfie Allen. So let’s talk about Netflix’s Night Teeth, shall we?
A Quick Synopsis Of Night Teeth (( (2021, Netflix) dir. Adam Randall ))
Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. portrays the outstanding character Benny, a college student who moonlights as a chauffeur for his brother’s business for a few extra dollars. One of his tasks consists of taking two mysterious young women out for a night of bar hopping. After being seduced by his clients, he soon discovers that they have their own plans for him, as well as an irresistible thirst for blood. When the night spirals out of control, Benny is thrust into the middle of a clandestine war between rival vampire tribes and the protectors of humanity. He is accompanied by his brother, played by Jay Perez, played by Raúl Castillo, who will do anything to send them back into the shadows. Benny must choose between fear and temptation in order to remain alive and save the City of Angels as dawn approaches.
Night Teeth (2021): A Thrilling Filmmaking Experience
In Night Teeth, the overall production quality is outstanding. There are many things about this film that are highly favorable, which is why it works as a whole and is tremendously entertaining. The premise is intriguing on its own, but with the sound, editing, cinematography, directing, and structure, it creates a hyperpostmodern gem that is unlike anything else on the market. Particularly in relation to vampires and their lore in a modern context.
Directing (Adam Randall) & Cinematography (Ebon Bolter)
Night Teeth is distinguished by its excellent directing and cinematography. This neon-lit, overzealous world that Randall and Bolter create is so much fun to immerse oneself in for the hour and forty minutes that it continues to exist on screen. The camera is in itself a character, continuously moving, taking you on a joyous journey, and continuously giving you the most breathtaking extreme wide shots that you could ask for. In addition to that, the camera in this film provides a refreshing perspective. Our first meeting is with Benny, who is shown in a multicultural world, and then we see the other side of his world, which is his brothers.
It is a world of darkness and neon, one characterized by mystery and corruption in many ways. Through this, a dynamic tension is created. This film is a tribute to Romeo + Juliet by Baz Luhrmann, as it creates what it feels through its camera, its color palette, editing, score, and mise-en-scène. I am particularly enamored with the moving takes. In the one in which Jay allows Benny to drive the car, the camera is spinning close to wide, and I cannot explain how it is so refreshing. There will be many of these, and they will all be great. The tilted framing that occurs when Benny and Blaire kiss on the couch is thrilling. Another instance occurs when Victor is driving out of his garage, and the shot follows Victor’s car but then morphs into a moving shot that then takes the camera into a wide shot of Benny, Blaire, and Zoe. These shots provide the framework for a hyerpostmodern aesthetic.
Even though there are quite a few montages in this film, I believe they are appropriate given the style of the film. When the film begins, they can be intrusive; however, they become more and more integral to the narrative as the film progresses. The combination of arthouse and thriller creates an enjoyable movie experience. The shallow focus was used judiciously; thrillers in our modern age use this technique very frequently to explore emotions on the surface of the frame, but in the case of Night Teeth, there is a good balance of establishing the scene(’s emotions) and then letting the viewer participate in it. A perfect combination of time and space is created; the dialogue and movements are not choreographed to the point where they are contrived.
It is difficult to overstate the beauty of Benny’s framing when he breaks the bottle over the guy’s head. Illuminated in purple and blue, the extreme close-up shot is stunning. The fight occurs in the background, out of focus, behind Benny as the camera focuses on him. The intense use of focus allows us to perceive both the background and foreground simultaneously. The shot does not impair the viewer from seeing what is behind it, but there is still a focal point on Benny. An effective shot. Similarly, Benny’s parking lot shot, with him facing toward the camera, uses shallow focus to give the viewer a clear view of the foreground and the background. It is refreshing to view those shots because, in the current world of shallow focus, it is inspiring to see a film utilize it in a way that emphasizes the significance of each scene.
The intensity created by the use of shallow focus in Night Teeth causes the sensation of panic and fear. There is a sense of panic created as we see Benny, as well as the surrounding elements. This is what makes Night Teeth a delightful movie on a cinematic level. The camera effectively uses the POV shot, as the viewer becomes the one who has caused harm or suffered damage. Most of the time, our point of view is also Benny’s, which raises the morale of his actions. It is also possible that we may be the ones who are being stomped on and that the shot is extremely satisfying since it is a floor-wide shot. This deliberate use of the camera is laudable. On all fronts, this film is well connected with the factors that contribute to the enjoyment of a movie.
Night Teeth‘s ‘Mise-En-Scène’
There is a lot of fun to be had in Night Teeth. There is this concept of vampires owning the city, but there is also controversy within the city about who and what can be done. It is an exciting way of looking at the lore of vampires. It is fascinating to study the concept of having territories, such as mobs or gangs, and choosing to keep the peace between them with a set of restrictions regarding who can and cannot come to those territories. As for the set design itself, LA is gorgeous. It is illuminated and neon and enters this science fiction realm vampire lore has not yet explored with this elevated hyperpostmodern aesthetic. From the beginning of the film, you have established lore of what this town consists of, making the narrative flow exceptionally well. Night Teeth opens with a delightful montage with Debby Ryan’s voiceover.
In the montage, comic-book-style graphics accompany a car driving through the city, explaining what Ryan says in the voiceover. According to the film’s intro, time should not be spent explaining who is who, but rather it should be shown throughout the remainder of the film. This method works exceptionally well since we are able to become immersed in the characters’ lives, situations, and have empathy for Benny and his quirky personality. Spanish was a fantastic addition to the story as well as the use of it. It blends cultures in a way that adds to the definition of vampires by giving them a new dimension. Many aspects of their lore remain a mystery. It is relatively cool to see all cultures becoming vampires, which is what films like Queen of the Damned and Vampire in Brooklyn accomplished. While this seems like a small item, it is rather neat, and to see Zoe and Blaire’s ‘in love’ friendship was beautiful. (I thought they were in love with each other at first, but I love that basis of their friendship.)
Introducing Night Teeth’s Acting
There is a lot of comical dialogue in this movie. It is both modern and funny. Several of the dialogue pieces are well written and delivered. For example, in the moments immediately preceding Megan Fox’s and her partner’s deaths, the two engage in humorous banter with Victor:
“But if I pitch a fit every time somebody pisses me off, what does that make me?” “A man.” “Stupid as shit.” “Like I said.”
I enjoy the subtle but pleasant banter that the characters exchange, along with their persona of being sexy and badass while still being intelligent and tactful. Everyone is a badass; it just depends on which side you are on. Benny (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) and Blaire (Debby Ryan) both excel in their roles. To me, they are the highlights of Night Teeth. They are constantly on point with their dialogue as actors, and I believe they excel in their respective roles.
While Megan Fox appears for just a few minutes, Victor (Alfie Allen) is terrifying and developed enough to fully understand his viewpoint in this vampire-centric world. I found Zoe (Lucy Fry) to be generally satisfactory, for the most part; she is the typical villain but done reasonably well. Likewise, I thought Benny’s brother, Jay, was a good addition to the cast, especially in the context of Benn. At the beginning of the film, there are a number of magnificent scenes in which they establish their relationship as a unit. The Spanish language is very effective in that context.
Score, Diegetic-Non-Diegetic Sound
The score of Night Teeth by Drum & Lace/Ian Hultquist fits beautifully with the elevated themes of the film. The use of more rap and R&B in the score was a great choice. The use of the Spanish language enhanced the mise-en-scène and gave a more immersive feel throughout the film. It was not only a choice to use Spanish, but also to integrate it into each aspect of the film. I found it to be an excellent use of music in a modernized film, especially one that deals with vampires and is classified as horror.
I thought both the non-diegetic and diegetic sounds were excellent. I also enjoyed the overall composition and sound design in Night Teeth. The editing by Dominic Laperriere, cinematography by Ebon Bolter, and sound all had a contemporary and lovely feel. All of these things combined to create an enjoyable and engaging film. I find this so intriguing as it offers an entirely new perspective on something we once knew only in a very narrow way. It reintroduces the exciting aspect of vampires, and I find that to be refreshing.
A Thrilling Adventure With Netflix’s Night Teeth (2021)
Night Teeth is nothing if it is not an outstanding work of art. Night Teeth explores what it is like to be an outcast and to desire to be included. In addition to this, there is the overarching premise about vampires and the ability to control and maintain something that appears to be so out of control. Despite its simplicity, Night Teeth creates a dynamic unlike any other modernized vampire story to date. As it goes beyond merely stating that vampires glow and cannot go outside, it provides a more comprehensive explanation of what we know about vampires as a whole. With the new approach, it achieves a hyperpostmodern feel which creates a fresh version of this in the context of the forthcoming cinema.
Among its many qualities, it provides sacrifices, stakes, great dialogue, and some nice romantic moments. While it takes time to create this emotional sacrifice, it still allows vampires to be vampires and kill mercilessly. This is a magnificent film with a superb balance between action, character development, and a breathtaking arthouse thriller. As each of the characters has a crucial role in the story, everyone begins to see just how murky the situation between these two factions is. Night Teeth is best enjoyed when it explores that concept and reveals that outcasts are never really outcasts. It is a thoroughly enjoyable thriller that is a wonderful breath of fresh air.