Even Lambs Have Teeth

It's a very familiar premise, in this case flavored with a dash of Liam Neeson's first 'Taken.' And, well - between that familiarity and that garnish, it's safe to say any given viewer will know in no small part just what to expect. I can't say it's a pleasant watch, but filmmaker Terry Miles at least has the good taste to refrain from showing the full extent of the violence exacted upon the protagonists - less depiction, more suggestion. Fewer restraints are employed when it comes to depictions of the women's vengeance, and gratifyingly so - revenge is ever so sweet. Yet surprisingly, for all the blood that's spilled, still the full grisly brunt is withheld from our sight.

In place of utmost crimson and viscera, instead there a delightful playfulness in the second length. I wouldn't go so far as to say 'Even lambs have teeth' becomes a horror-comedy, but it's unquestionably self-aware, and wants to ensure the audience has a good time after subjecting us to distinctly unpalatable content initially. So wholly does the movie lean into that slant that the absolute, incredulous neatness with which the course of events transpires - all but echoing the storytelling approach of fairy tales in omitting non-primary elements from the story - seems purely intentional. It's a little bit ham-handed, sure, but to the point of enjoyment, not disbelief.

Blood effects look good, and technical craft in general is fine, including some commendable camerawork. The cast is suitable, and scene writing and execution are swell. The overall narrative is written well and completely, and ably washes over the unsavory facets of the plot with the amusing bits to help clinch a lasting impression of welcome diversion instead of unseemly (muted) exploitation. Any viewer hoping for a more abjectly thrilling experience may be put out, but if you're open to the feature's style, and its wish to only entertain, then you'll be in for a somewhat refreshing take on the sub-genre of torture-heavy bloodbaths that have proliferated in recent years. Never wholly captivating, but engaging all the same - and minding substantial content warnings for abduction, sexual assault, and general violence - 'Even lambs have teeth' is fairly worthwhile if you come across it.

This movie plot has been done so many times and this film does not have any new tales on the old ones. Don't fix what isn't broken. The second half of this film also is so odd, you feel something happened and you missed it for the characters to seem like completely new characters so quickly. I will commend the special effects for the gory scenes but overall, not recommended.

I saw this movie at its "world premiere" in Denver in October 2015. The cast and crew were on hand to talk about it before and after. This review is spoiler free because there is very little to spoil.

The film is a quick 80 min. So quick that it feels rushed, not much thought was put into the most crucial scenes. The actors said it took 3 weeks to shoot, 12 hours a day, but it felt more like they had banged it out in a few days. Things happen very suddenly and with very little weight or consequence. I'm guessing that's due to the very low budget. Most of the action occurs off-screen, something the crew claims to be intentional, but I suspect it was also the effect of limited funds and even more limited imagination, since there are plenty of low-budget films who managed way more creative solutions in the face of scarce financing.

There are, to be fair, a few really funny moments, but on the whole the entire script is too ludicrous to take even halfway seriously. If somebody invites you to see this film, bring a bottle of booze and settle in. You're in for a night of amateurish acting and terrible puns. These lambs may have teeth, but they're small and dull.

Two young women, Sloane and Katie, head out to rural America to work on an eco farm. They need the money so they can go on a shopping holiday to New York. They are offered a ride to the farm by some friendly local young men. Turns out the men's intentions aren't all friendly and they are soon held prisoner by them. They escape and plan their revenge. Meanwhile, the uncle of one of the girls, an FBI detective, suspects something is wrong and comes looking for them.

Pretty much your standard kidnapped captive-gets-revenge movie, a la I Spit On Your Grave, except this time there's two captives. Set up is good though and the movie moves along at a very good pace.

The pace is maybe too fast though. Editing is a bit choppy and weird, meaning you are suddenly fast-forwarded (figuratively) through a scene when a slower pace would have prevented confusion.

Some contrivances too which ruin the plot somewhat. The movie had a grittiness to start off with but there were too many outs in the plot development to sustain that.

Some good action scenes though and the revenge is sweet. Never dull.

Too much of the action left to the imagination. Extremely bad dialogue and while the acting wasn't bad, it was never elevated beyond mediocre. Sure, the girls were extremely pretty! But it wasn't enough to save this. A few good moments in a laughably horrible movie. And the soundtrack was completely nonsensical. It had no role in complementing the on screen activity at all. Absurdly distracting.