01. Teeth
The teeth missing of the first vitictims suggests the existence of the ritual, then the following episodes continue showing the process of Eddie collecting teeth from children get manipulated. The teeth might symbolize the fear of kids. Changing teeth and the necessory pain produced by dentists certainly cause worries that much more strong and inevitable than other random events, which varies basing on living circumstances, would have conducted. Besides, the image created by Western culture, representative Tooth Fariy, indicates the crucial role plays by this oral skelenton in traditional American fairy tale system. Thus, Eddie's behavior of depriving teeth and molding the actual vessel with them, is literally an expression of "I am capable of making you suffer, feeling pain and scare; I feed on your nightmares; and I AM THE HORROR." in the sight of a 12-year-old kid, who could have viewed other classical tooth-related figures in the substantial amount of films and television works, especially cult ones; or simply empathized the self experiences during his childhood.
02. Mike's power
When the story comes to the finale, the emergence—vaguely hinted— of Mike's power which have stopped Eddie's resurgence directly, is reasonable. According to the character design of both Eddie and Mike, who as identical twins share all their genes, the brothers should theoretically equip with power on the equal level or at the potential capacity of reaching the similar state.
The reasons why Eddie shows his talent far more early than Mike lie in both subjective and cognitive elements, as well as the stimulus provided by the condition of the social relationship. To be specific, differences between two characters root in the CHANGE: When did they begin to change, why do they change and how.
In Eddie's case, the slightly stubborn kid receives bullying for several times, along with verbal insult and unobtainable apologies; and the last item very likely reflects the unvalued status the boy's family are in among the community, which too is confirmed by images of a helpless mother and a father/husband absent house. Eddie's anger later aggravates because of Mike's rule-breaking act, of tending to build interpersonal relationship beyond the family members, which regarded by Eddie a solid sign of betray. This is the time and the opportunity Eddie begin to change. The lines from Mike: "You're changing", "It's changing you", point out the process. Furthermore, during the period, it can be realized that the kid would acquire basic knowledge of his power, and practice it to be stronger. It is clear that Eddie's ability originates from anger and hatred.
On the other side, Mike had no change, or did not change a lot since then. The kid stands aside, crying, while Eddie gets involved in the brutal beat. The character of Mike shows awareness of survival and social skills, for instance, avoiding meaningless conflicts and engaging with genuine communication; and these habits allow relatively mild thoughts with lessened pressure. Mike changes right about the time he decides to protect Jessica, however, Eddie's death halts Mike's demand of power. The most urgent motivation of fight emerges under the protective desire to Lily, meaning love, which considered as the reversal but equivalent of hatred; plus the deeper insight of the unnatural phenomenon. Consequently, twins' power forms counterbalance, preventing Eddie's spirit possession along with Mike's leaving.
4
