Novocaine

"Average man caught in a spiral of deceit" movies are really about the loss of control. In NOVOCAINE, Frank's world at first appears as exact and precisely regulated as his dental office. Although he tells us in a voiceover that everything is the way he wants it, we see hints almost immediately that he finds it sterile and unsatisfying. Even before he meets Susan, we see hints of his tolerance for – and interest in – a less controlled life. As we see Frank fall under Susan's spell, it appears that Frank feels suffocated by his success and is intrigued by those who chose another path.

This movie is a throwback to classics of the "film noir" genre, with a seductive but mysterious woman in distress drawing the law-abiding hero into a web of corruption. Instead of rain-soaked streets on moonless nights, though, this film is set in the white, sun-lit environment of a California dentist. Director David Atkins and stars Martin, Dern, Koteas, and Bonham Carter make good use of the contrast between the bright, sterile setting and the dark desires of the characters, and the plot twists keep surprises coming until the very end.