Directed by Brian Yuzna
Corbin Bernsen - Dr. Feinstone
Linda Hoffman - Brooke
Michael Stadvec - Matt
Ken Foree - Detective Gibbs
Tony Noakes - Detective Sunshine
Molly Hagan - Jessica
Patty Toy - Karen
Jan Hoag - Candy
Virginya Keehne - Sarah
Earl Boen - Marvin Goldblum
Crista Sauls - April Reign
Mark Ruffalo - Steve Landers
Lisa Simms - Paula Roberts
Joanne Baron - Mrs. Saunders
Brian McLaughlin - Jody
Aixa Maldonado - Maria
Writer - Dennis Paoli
Writer - Stuart Gordon
Writer - Charles Finch
Executive Producer - Mark Amin
Associate Producer - Sheri Bryant
Producer - Pierre David
Cinematography - Levie Isaaks
Original Music - Alan Howarth
Film Editor - Christopher Roth
Casting - Carol Lefko
Production Design - William Ryder
Art Direction - Robyn Coburn
Costume Design - Warden Neal
Makeup - Joshua Blyden,
Anthony Ferrante, and Jessica Flannery
Special Effects - Shea Clayton
Stunts - Rosine 'Ace' Hatem
A successful dentist locked up in an asylum recalls his past and his decent into madness. The film then starts on the day Dr. Feinston, a wealthy California dentist with a beatiful young wife, is to celebrate his wedding anniversary. While he is planning their night out he is harrassed by an IRS agent over the phone. After which the agent makes an appoinment to a check-up with the good doctor! On his way out to the office he spies his wife Brooke having some fun with the pool boy, Mark. He decides to wait for Mark to leave and follow him to his business appointment. Mark arrives at Paula's house. Feinstone goes around to speak with Mark but is stopped by Paula who then makes an appointment with him! Wow these people are in trouble. Trying a second time to see Mark he sees Paula and him enter the cabana for some fun. Feinstone realizes he can't do anything now and leaves. Before he can leave her dog charges him which he promptly shoots dead. Later two LAPD detectives, Gibbs and Sunshine, arrive to investigate the matter. They take the bullet that killed the dog to the lab for investigation. Feinstone finally gets to work, very late, where several patients have left. First up for the doc is little Jody on his first trip to the dentist. Feinstone starts to hallucinate about seeing dirt (the filth his wife is involved in) and accidentally stabs Jody's gums. Next up is April and the Doc gets too involved with this hallucination. He over does the gas for her and he molests her on the chair. She is carried out of the office by her annoying business manager. After these incidents he closes the office and waits for his wife to arrive. After she shows up he give her a sneak peak at his new exam room and ends up getting free dental work. OUCH! When Mark arrives for the daily pool cleaning he finds Brooke tied to the chair with her teeth and tongue removed. Nasty stuff. While he is doing this Detectives Gibbs and Sunshine arrive to discuss the bullet they found which and whether the Doctor owns a handgun. He lies to them and they leave. This allows Feinstone to murder Mark after he discovered Brooke's situation. He heads to the office and has to deal with his suspicious staff, who he kills off one by one. The IRS agent arrives for his check-up and he recieves some unnecessary dental work. He sends his staff home and finishes his day by taking off the braces of Sarah. The police finally realize that Feinstone lied to them and they move in on his office. Sarah is attacked by Feinstone but she is saved by Gibbs and Sunshine who then track him to the school where he teaches dentistry. Feinstone is ultimately subdued and locked up. It ends with him on his way to visit the hospital's dentist.
To tell you the truth I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law and Major League) was great as Feinstone. He quickly slips into madness and rarely has a rational thought in his head the entire film. Everyone was believable in their roles except for Tony Noakes. Man was he ever wooden. Ken again shinedin the few scenes he had as Detevtive Gibbs. I was hoping for more action from him and maybe a few more scenes. This is a decent effort from Brian Yuzna and Brian Gordon (both of Re-Animator fame). The close-up scenes of the mouth were well done and creepy. I loved when they showed the teeth, gums, or tongue were stabbed, drilled or smashed. Makes me want to visit my dentist real soon. For fans of Gordon, Yuzna, Bensen, and Foree this a good pickup and it never drags.
There is a sequel, The Dentist 2 starring Corbin Bernsen which chronicles his escape from the mental institution. I have not seen this as it does not star Ken.
Movie Rating
