You know – for a movie about a tooth filled vagina that bites fingers and penises off – this film plays a lot like a Cronenberg-esque HEROES episode about a young girl with a strange power and a lot of awkward, vulnerable and heart-achingly true scenes of what it is like to be an innocent girl coming to terms with her budding sexuality and the inherent power of the vagina.

The very subject matter of this movie scares some women into thinking they’ll be outraged – and at the same time – it scares the penis out of men. So why would anyone watch a film about a subject matter we just don’t – collectively – want to think about?

Well… what if it is handled right?

What if the story is handled delicately and with restraint? What if there’s not shot of a toothy biting crotch monster – and instead it’s a film about empowering the victim – and giving her a strength and a power that is actually quite delicious – and allows the young innocent lamb to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing – striking at those that would fleece and cook the young lamb?

That’s the sort of movie this is. One that can be interpretated by the Christian right as being a cautionary tale about going back on your vows of chastity. While on the other hand, being a badass tale of a young lady blossoming into an empowered and sexually active female that can take the sexual power back from the penatrator.

I haven’t seen this sort of horror since the heyday of David Cronenberg. Think RABID – think SHIVERS – think THE BROOD. This is a new flesh film going on the very old mythology of vagina dentate – which culturally goes back to the stone age, but with a modern age exploration and revelation.

Is Mitchell Lichtenstein the new Cronenberg? I wouldn’t say so, because other than the adaptability of the human body – tonally they’re as far apart as night and day. No – Lichtenstein is a combination of Cronenberg and Alexander Payne – playing very much as a combination of ELECTION and SHIVERS. There’s fear, but hope and humor. It is very much a fearful and terrifying film for our lead actress, until the second half of the film, which gives her an illuminating look at her own problem.

This is a very very smart movie and one that despite a really terrifying amount of intimate gore – it plays tender. Seriously.

Jess Weixler’s Dawn is very much a sweet and endearing character. The flower of the story with it’s thorn. The characters that surround her are also tenderly drawn. Even if the pricks are pricks.

The movie is opening this weekend in New York (one theater) and in Los Angeles in several. If you love good strong smart horror with subtext and nudity – then you owe it to yourself to get out there and support this very smart film. The following week it’ll be opening in seven more cities, then depending on the reaction there – other places in the country will get to see it… but make no mistake – the simple premise will keep mountains of ninnies away from this picture – but frankly – if I had a teenage girl or boy – I’d take them and as many of their friends to see this movie. Not to scare them away from sex, but to having an open and frank discussion of the very real fears about opening that door at that early of an age.

While also having a smart fun, scary and wild movie to revel in.