August 20, 1999
Web posted at: 4:50 p.m. EDT (2050 GMT)

By Reviewer Paul Clinton

(CNN) -- With such wildly successful teen horror films as "Scream" (1996), "Scream 2" (1997) and "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (1997) -- and his equally successful teen-friendly TV series for the WB, "Dawson's Creek" -- writer Kevin Williamson has proved he knows what the teen market wants on a screen.

Now he's writing and directing for the first time. The result, "Teaching Mrs. Tingle," is decidedly dark and slightly creepy.

Played with gleefully evil flair by British actress extraordinaire Helen Mirren, Mrs. Tingle is a history teacher from hell who revels in terrorizing her students, especially a certain Miss Goody Two-Shoes named Leigh Ann Watson played by Katie Holmes. (Don't confuse character Leigh Ann Watson with actress Leslie Ann Warren, who's in the show, too.)

When Tingle falsely accuses Leigh Ann of cheating -- thereby jeopardizing the student's college scholarship -- Leigh Ann decides to teach the teacher a lesson no one will forget. She's joined by two cohorts: hunky Luke played by Barry Watson, and would-be actress Jo Lynn, expertly performed by newcomer Marisa Coughlan.

This dark and twisted film is essentially a cat-and-mouse game involving Tingle, Leigh Ann, Jo Lynn and Luke. After the three students take Tingle prisoner in her own home and tie her to her bed, they demand that she "do the right thing" and withdraw her allegation about Leigh Ann. Instead Tingle tries to divide and conquer by turning the teens against each other.

Williamson says he had his own Mrs. Tingle, in his case an English teacher who told him he'd never become a writer when he was in high school. This film, if not the entirety of his high-powered career, is his revenge. Almost everyone can relate to having had an authority figure in life who was similarly daunting. Multiply that by 10 and you have "Teaching Mrs. Tingle."

Overall, Williamson has delivered a clever script that has a few unexpected twists and turns. This is the first film he wrote, before his success with "Scream"-ing. The result is also carefully aimed at the same age group that has made the two "Scream" films so successful. Williamson gets story credit for "Scream 3," now slated for a December 10 release.

While "Mrs. Tingle" won't be every viewer's cup of tea, the targeted teen market will probably chug it. Holmes is a teen idol, thanks to her work in "Dawson's Creek." Watson has a built-in fan base from his own WB series, "7th Heaven."

There are also a number of small roles performed here by familiar faces. Warren plays Leigh Ann's work-worn mother Faye; Michael McKean plays the high-school principal; Molly Ringwald plays a sympathetic teacher; Vivica A. Fox plays Leigh Ann's guidance counselor; and Jeffrey Tambor does a funny turn as a horny Coach Spanky with a deep, dark secret.

The score by John Frizzell is also worth mentioning. He's created wonderful theme music for Mirren that's reminiscent of the music used for the Wicked Witch in "The Wizard Of Oz" (1939). There's also a cover of Janis Ian's "At Seventeen" performed by Tara MacLean, and 12 original songs performed by various artists, adding energy and pacing to the story.

But it's Mirren who makes this movie worth seeing by anyone over age 24. She's brilliant as the spiteful Eve Tingle, and she'll make you grateful you're no longer in high school.

One final note. This film has traveled a long and winding road to reach theaters. It originally was titled "Killing Mrs. Tingle." The April 20 shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, prompted a delay in the film's release -- and a change of title.

Thankfully, there are no guns involved in this film, and no deaths. The violent action between the teacher and her students doesn't take place in the school. With all respect to political correctness, there are no parallels between this film and any of the sad and senseless killings at schools in recent years.

"Teaching Mrs. Tingle" opens nationwide on Friday and is rated PG-13. 100 minutes.