Teaching Tingle (1999)

Directed by: Kevin Williamson | 96 minutes | comedy, thriller | Actors: Helen Mirren, Katie Holmes, Jeffrey Tambor, Barry Watson, Marisa Coughlan, Liz Stauber, Michael McKean, Molly Ringwald, Vivica A. Fox, John Patrick White, Robert Gant

Kevin Williamson’s Teaching Mrs. Tingle’ knows how to mix comedy well with the horror/thriller genre. Williamson is not only a director, but also the writer of the script. Well, he’s better in the first one, the script leaves a bit to be desired here and there, but overall the film is a great pastime. The theme will appeal to young people in particular: Leigh Ann (a young Katie Holmes) wants at all costs valedictorian during the graduation ceremony, because that is the only way she can get a scholarship to Harvard. But her history teacher, Mrs. Tingle (Helen Mirren) stands in the way; she refuses to give a good grade and she seems to hate Leigh Ann from the bottom of her heart. When outcast Luke (Barry Watson) manages to answer the questions, everything seems to work out after all. Until Mrs. Tingle finds out. In the evening they visit their stubborn teacher’s house with a group, but that doesn’t go as well as planned. They find themselves forced to tie her to her bed and keep her captive in her own home. But Tingle is no fool and begins to play a mean manipulative game with the students…

Katie Holmes is clearly still very young and inexperienced, but in a way it suits her somewhat naive character. Barry Watson – especially nice for the girls – comes across as a lot stronger as rebellious Luke. As in every teenage film, here too a handsome but very irritating rival for the main character. This time it’s student Jo Lynn, who does get good grades for history, and this is what it looks like valedictorian is becoming. Marisa Coughlan has the honor of portraying this character and she does it quite well. A bit of overacting, but that wouldn’t look out of place for Jo Lynn.

The real star is – as you might expect – Helen Mirren as Mrs. Tingle. Mirren is a world-class actress and, despite the fact that the script does not always cooperate, of course knows how to keep going. Her level lifts the entire film and her dry humor provides the necessary comic notes. Although you shouldn’t think of having her against you… In short, a big compliment to Helen Mirren, but the other actors also get away with their acting performances. It’s just a shame that Williamson didn’t get the most out of the story, because there certainly could have been more.