The Dentist

The events unfold in a contemporary 1990s Los Angeles setting. Advances in dental technology and the era's social mores frame Alan Feinstone's obsession with cleanliness and perfection. The era's visual style supports a polished exterior hiding a violent, destabilized psyche.

Set mainly in Los Angeles, the story tracks the polished, ritual-driven world of a high-profile dentist. The action moves between his sterile clinic, his home, and key public spaces that reveal the societal veneer surrounding his life. The contrast between glamorous urban life and claustrophobic interiors underscores his need for control.

🧠 Mental Illness

The narrative centers on Alan Feinstone's extreme OCD, showing how compulsion distorts reality and fuels escalating violence. Ritualized dental practices mirror his uncontrollable impulses. The film uses close-ups of instruments and sterile spaces to emphasize a mind spiraling out of control.

🔪 Violence

Alan's restraint crumbles into brutal acts as the plot escalates from paranoid defensiveness to murder. The violence is integrated with his professional setting, making each act feel clinical and deliberate. Detective investigations peel back layers of deception and dread.

🦷 Dental Horror

Dentistry is reframed as a site of power and fear, where teeth become symbols of vulnerability. The film ties pain, control, and body manipulation to the toolset of a dentist. The horrifying flipside of a trusted profession drives the suspense.