Review by Daniel Emery Taylor
I'm a "Ginger Snaps" enthusiast. I really love the film. It is a rare breed. It is an excellent teenage horror film (they often play it too cheaply) and a decent werewolf film (the noble werewolf, sadly, has birthed some really lame movies). "Ginger Snaps" is the touching story of Brigitte and her older sister Ginger. The girls are outcasts, so they cling to each other for companionship and support. The story takes a sharp turn when Ginger hits puberty and begins taking an interest in boys. Oh, did I mention that her female cycle actually begins with the onset of lycanthropy? Did I mention that her interest in boys is largely nutritional? Puberty is a pain; she's growing hair in odd places. And fangs. And a snout.
It is no stretch to say that the film is an allegory for menstruation. It makes the same connection itself, as Ginger's lycanthropy (lycanthropy = what makes you a werewolf) is mistaken as the onset of puberty by parents and teachers alike. Bleeding, changes in the nails and teeth, and excess body hair are all attributed to "the curse." What, then, is the film saying? Do men fear a woman comfortable with her own sexuality? Do we see her as a monster? Does a woman, free from patriarchal authority, actually become a monster, vindictive and greedy? Do women, because of Eve's curse, actually have a harder load to carry? Do they see themselves as monsters as their bodies change and morph around them? The film has a message; I wish the definitive thesis was more clear.
The story is fantastic. It attempts to blend werewolf folklore with modern, scientific explanation. There must be a medicinal reason for the use of silver and wolfsbane against a werewolf. It ditches some of the more mystical elements (the full moon, witchcraft, talismans) and goes with something that my suspension of disbelief finds more feasible. Lycanthropy is treated as a virus. I usually find the whole "virus" thing to be a cop-out, but it works here.
The effects are excellent and organic. The werewolf creatures are okay, a bit too stylized for my taste, but much better than what we normally get. The blood looks good. There is a ton of gore, both of the human, animal, and monster variety, so the effects people really got to show their stuff. I think gorehounds will be pleased.
Mimi Rogers appears in a terrific role, though the appearance of an A-List Hollywood player does seem a tad out of place. Emily Perkins actually became one of my favorite female actors with this role (well, this and It) as she brings a genuinity that would be hard to replicate. Katharine Isabelle plays Ginger. Katharine's mainly notable for her refusal to do nude scenes (which lead to friction with the director of Freddy Vs. Jason). I think it's great -- more actors need to stick to their guns and not compromise themselves. But, I digress ...
The movie is a ton of fun. It's got thrills and chills, a ton of dark, cynical humor, and lots of human drama. It's multidimensional and that is a big part of what makes it work. There's very little good and bad. These characters are real, both good and bad, and it's not a long stretch to see them as our children, friends, or spouses. It is fun to watch the characters interact with each other. It is as much a character study as it is a splatter-feast, so the human element really touches a cord. I think it's great to find characters you can relate to. I highly recommend this one.
On a side note, I'm still waiting for that one excellent werewolf film. Werewolves are certainly the most interesting creatures in horror mythology. Why can't they get a fair shake? There are some decent werewolf movies but there has been no real defining picture. That's sad. And no, Monster Squad doesn't count ... even if Wolfman does have nards.