Great werewolf films are hard to come by, so it’s a shock to see such an under the radar low budget horror film like “Ginger Snaps” not only get the formula right, but make its own mark in the sub-genre. Most times, the entire werewolf motif has been used to convey feelings of oppression and unbridled savagery as we saw with “The Howling,” and “The Wolfman,” but director John Fawcett aims toward a more feminine message. This werewolf film is about lycanthropy as a metaphor for blossoming in to womanhood. With such overtones and outright straight forward explorations of the themes, “Ginger Snaps” surprisingly knows how to balance its narrative themes well.
It straddles the line between vicious horror film, dark coming of age comedy, and a twisted tale of familial bonds all the while giving us a witty take on PMS. Ginger and Brigitte are two darkly demented sisters attached at the hips. They’re obsessed with death and horror films, and find themselves bound to one another in their attempts to prevent the inevitability of growing up. So close are they, that they’ve even sworn a death pact. One night during a botched attempt to kidnap the school bully’s dog, Brigitte and Ginger are attacked by a massive monster in the woods. Despite their efforts to flee, Ginger is dealt the worst of the attack, dragged away and mauled by the monster as Brigitte struggles to help.
Ginger narrowly survives as the beast is run over by a truck. Shell shocked, the sisters begin to realize what really happened, and Ginger begins to undergo a shocking transformation in personality and appearance that make her a deadly force of sexuality and attitude. Fawcett’s casting is excellent with the incomparable Katharine Isabelle and Elizabeth Perkins playing beautifully off one another as sisters intent on confronting the transformation that’s going to inevitably tear them apart. While the film is short on monster action, director Fawcett implements the small budget by focusing on the more grotesque bodily transformations Ginger endures.
Ginger undergoes an immense metamorphosis through the narrative and begins to slowly accept her change, and embrace the beast. This manifests through odd sexual escapades, and her willingness to take hold of her sexuality, which makes her even more menacing than when we originally meet her. Star Isabelle isn’t only gorgeous, but really gives a powerful turn as this young girl driven insane by her curse. I was never a big fan of Kris Lemche’s character, nor did I ever like the sub-plot involving an aggressive high schooler who gets infected by Ginger during a rough rendezvous. The latter felt like filler then, and still does. That said, “Ginger Snaps” is a remarkable and excellent werewolf thriller that’s equal parts creepy, funny, and tragic.
Scream Factory give the movie truly excellent treatment after years on DVD in the US with a measly barebones release. “Ginger Snaps, Blood Teeth and Fur” is an hour long retrospective for the film including interviews with the cast and crew, and reflections on the themes of the story. “Growing Pains: Puberty in Horror Films” is a thirty minute round table discussion with four notable female voices of horror discussing the female voice of horror and various films that have dealt with the ideas of puberty and coming of age. There are twenty five minutes of deleted scenes with optional John Fawcett Commentary, and Karen Walton commentary. There’s the original featurette for the film, a Cast Auditions and Rehearsals reel, a featurette about the creation of the werewolf beast in the film, Production Trailers, TV Spots, Production Design/Artwork, and finally “Being John Fawcett,” a two minute home video with director Fawcett goofing around with stars Perkins and Isabelle on set.