Dark Comedy Thriller Changed After National Tragedy, Stream Without Netflix
Kevin Williamson has etched himself in the horror hall of fame with magnificent screenplays for Scream (1996), I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), and The Faculty (1998). But because of the tragic school shooting at Columbine High School in April 1999, his directorial debut, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, was almost shelved. After a name change, edited scenes, and a delayed release, the famed filmmaker’s first foray into the director’s chair was panned by critics and unfairly overlooked by audiences in the late summer of 1999.
Teenage Revenge
Teaching Mrs. Tingle is the perfect teenage revenge film. The movie follows several California high school seniors who are wrongfully accused by their ruthless history teacher, Mrs. Tingle (Helen Mirren,) of cheating on their finals in history class. The story unfolds as Leigh Ann Watson (Katie Holmes), an A student on her way to being valedictorian, is caught with a copy of the test. Fellow student Luke Churner (Barry Watson) swiped it from their teacher and slipped a copy of it into Leigh Ann’s bookbag without her knowing.
How Far Will A Student Go For An A?
Principal Potter (Michael McKean) had already left for the day, leaving Mrs. Tingle no other choice than to report Leigh Ann the following day. This prompts the spurned student to leap into action and, together with Luke and her friend Jo Lynn (Marisa Coughlan), pay a visit to the cruel history teacher to try to persuade her of her innocence. After the three students are rebuffed and mocked by Mrs. Tingle, a scuffle breaks out and leads to the educator being knocked out cold.
One Bad Decision After Another
Leigh Ann and her friends decide to tie her up to her bed while they come up with a better plan. As Teaching Mrs. Tingle continues, a failed blackmail plot, infighting between the three students, and brilliant psychological manipulation from Mrs. Tingle work to keep the film’s exciting (and humorous) pace all the way to the unexpected ending.
The Worst Timing
Teaching Mrs. Tingle was produced with a much darker overtone than the version released in the theaters. At one time, it’s R-rating, including the deaths of several characters, a meaner version of Leigh Ann, and a title that Williamson was pressured to change. With the recent tragedy at Columbine still weighing heavily on the minds of many Americans, the name Killing Mrs. Tingle just wasn’t going to fly.
Teaching Mrs. Tingle only made back $8.9 million of its $14 million production budget. Even with a delayed release, most movie audiences weren’t ready for the subject matter, watered down or not. However, the movie nonetheless has a lot to offer movie lovers 25 years after the fact.
Streaming For Free
REVIEW SCORE
Helen Mirren is brilliant in her part of the snide and sarcastic history teacher. Teaching Mrs. Tingle is far from the greatest production she’s been cast in, but she still plays it with her all. A young Katie Holmes comes off as likable and sympathetic, giving audiences a realistic character to relate to. McKean and Jeffrey Tambor (who plays Coach Richard “Spanky” Wenchell) give great comic relief in their respective scenes and add to an ensemble cast of minor characters that also include Lesley Ann Warren, Molly Ringwald, and Vivica A. Fox.
You can stream Teaching Mrs. Tingle for free with Pluto TV.
