Ginger Snaps has been sitting in my "to see" pile for a long time. Even though it's an underground favorite its direct-to-video status put me off from putting any priority on watching it. It turns out to have been uncalled for as GS is a surprisingly good film and one of the most thoughtful werewolf pieces ever made. Sisters Ginger and Bridgette Fitzgerald (Katharine Isabelle and Emily Perkins respectively) are living on the fringe of high school society. Ginger in particular is obsessed with death, regularly reminding Bridgette of their suicide pact, "Out by sixteen or dead in this scene but together forever." While Ginger is the primary force for the girls goth death obsession (the opening sequence of the movie depicting such is brilliantly done and makes you instantly fall in love with the girls), she also seems to need it the least. Shy, frumpy Bridgette - whose hair is a rats nest and clothes are unflattering to the extreme - was moved up a grade and seems to have no friends. Ginger on the other hand can't seem to hide her good looks under a mountain of black clothes and a "fuck you" demeanor; she's already got the popular boys chasing her. Out one night to play a prank on one of their high school tormentors, the girls are attacked by a vicious creature. All moments after late-blooming Ginger gets her first period, or as she unhappily - and humorously - calls it, "the curse". Thus begins the saga of the Fitzgerald sisters trying to understand what's happening to them. A number of films have used lycanthropy as a metaphor for puberty but few have been as realized as Ginger Snaps. Suddenly Ginger must deal with unwanted body hair and out-of-control hormones that lead to bloodlust. It even briefly touches on STDs. It all works because the movie treats the subject earnestly; lycanthropy isn't the supernatural or a joke. It's a frightening biological change. It's all helped along by a mother (played beautifully by Mimi Rogers) whose attempts to relate to her daughters backfires more often than not. Like all parents she only wants to help her children through a difficult time in their life but is stymied by a complete inability to really understand what her daughters are suffering through. Her scenes with Bridgette in particular are played with a great dark humor, especially one in the final act where she devises a crazed plan to help her daughters out of a difficult situation. Ginger Snaps doesn't pull any punches throughout. It never develops cold feet when the fur starts to fly; its closing scene is truly haunting. The movie will also appeal to anyone who's tired of seeing women as splatter victims. Strong performances by Isabelle and especially Perkins provide a strong counterpoint to the usual female slasher victim. Final verdict: 9/10.
Just as a matter of interest, cutie pie Katharine Isabelle will be guest starring on Supernatural this Thursday at 9/8 central. Not playing a werewolf this time, alas. I agree that Ginger Snaps was kick ass. I didn't realize it had been direct-to-video.
I think it had a limited release in Canada. It was one of those films that ran into problems in the aftermath of the Columbine shootings.
If you can believe it, Katharine Isabelle was 18 and Emily Perkins (who looked every bit the 15-year old she was playing) was 22 when the movie was shot.
Both Ginger Snaps movies are good. I happily enjoyed the "dirty old man" time they both afforded me. Plus the world just needs more werewolf movies.
The first one is great and of the better werewolf movies. The other two are pieces of shit. Although the third one is better than the second. It takes place a 100 years earlier for some reason.
Speaking of shitty werewolf movies, anyone else see the trailer for "Blood And Chocolate"? Jaaayzuus. Do they have to smear teeny-pop teeny-soap feces all over every genre?
Ginger Snaps: Unleashed (i.e. Ginger Snaps 2 or why using a pun as your movie title is a really bad idea if you ever plan on making sequels) I have to disagree with BizarroEnt on this one. Ginger Snaps: Unleashed is one of the best sequels I've seen. Like T2 and Aliens, it capitalizes on the first film while bringing the story in a whole new direction. While the original was a metaphor for puberty, GS2 jumps right into drug abuse and self-mutilation. This is probably one of the first films where the protagonist regularly shoots up drugs and cuts her arms and she's completely sane. Hell, you even admire her for it. It's all very dark and gritty yet it doesn't have the death obsession of Ginger Snaps. Just the opposite: Unleashed is very much about the epic struggle to stay alive (which leads to one of the best lines of the trilogy where the sisters discuss how strong Brigitte is). My only complaint is the ending. The very last scene works against the rest of the film. It's unbelievable and when the subject of your movie is werewolves that's saying something. Final verdict: 8/10 (1 point docked for the ending). GS2 is very keen on characterization and has a long build-up. If you're looking for a traditional werewolf slasher this one's not for you. Ginger Snaps Back (i.e. Ginger Snaps 3) This one was a disappointment. Unlike the first two movies which were very character driven, GS3 has the barest of plots. 1815 + remote Canadian outpost + werewolves = movie. Now if you have a bit of a budget and a director who's good at delivering action and suspense that's good enough. Unfortunately Ginger Snaps Back has none of those things. According to IMDB neither the writers nor director of the first two movies were involved and it shows. It's a very interesting idea transporting the characters back to the beginning of the 19th century. Unfortunately the movie doesn't make much of it. They're their to essentially behave like they did in the other two films, complete with anachronisms and Ginger regularly dropping the f-bomb. Even the reason why two young women are out alone far in the wilderness isn't elaborated on (the film provocatively hints that the story they gave is a lie but never follows up on it). In the end Ginger Snaps Back feels like a monotonous journey to an inevitable conclusion (one the film is kind enough to inform you of at the very beginning). Final verdict: 6/10 (It receives 1 bonus point for getting Katharine Isabelle damn close to naked and allowing Emily Perkins to look good in at least one of the movies).
Man, Katharine Isabelle was cute on Supernatural last night. Adorable, even. My husband was drooling like denture man.
Don't want to bust your bubble, but the Ginger Snaps I researched has plenty of nudity...but then it does star Ginger Lynn. No pics....sorry http://www.iafd.com/title.asp?title=Ginger Snaps&year=1987
