Novocaine is a 2001 black comedy thriller film written and directed by David Atkins and starring Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, Laura Dern, Lynne Thigpen and Elias Koteas. The film was shot in the Chicago, Illinois area, during a limited 32-day schedule. The film received extra publicity during production and as its release approached because of an off-the-screen romance between Martin and Carter. The film received mixed reviews, and low box-office receipts. Generally, the film is a dark and quirky "tragicomedy" concerning an "everyman" protagonist a fairly pleasant but rather innocuous,... ordinary and uneventful life. But all of this gets derailed, and Frank's life descends into an increasingly complex mess, from the minute a beautiful and seductive new patient named Susan Ivey comes to him, seeking a root canal and a little pain relief On Susan's initial office visit, Frank schedules her for a root canal the very next day, and offers her some Ibuprofen to address her pain in the meanwhile. Claiming that she is allergic to the offered medication, Susan requests a prescription for the addictive pain-killer Demerol.
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| Release date: | September 8, 2001 |
| Directed by: | David Atkins, David Atkins |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 95 Minutes |
| Producer: | Paul Mones, Daniel M. Rosenberg |
| Editor: | Melody London |
| Cinematography: | Vilko Filac |
| Screenplay by: | David Atkins |
| Estimated budget: | $6,000,000 |
| Genre: | Thriller, Comedy |