As a result of Ginger Snaps taking "the road less traveled", this flick is an original entry to the horror genre that should not be missed.
I am going to let you in on a little secret. No matter how hard I try, every once in a while a horror film gets past my keen senses without me knowing that it exists. Yes, I know it is a shocker but perfection is definitely not one of my redeeming qualities. Ginger Snaps came and went and even with Katherine Isabelle (hubba, hubba) I completely missed it. But I have made amends and now offer a review for your reading (and hopefully your future viewing) pleasure.
Ginger Snaps does not hold back anything. Any doubts at what type of film you are about to watch are put to rest in the beginning. From the first frames we find a family pooch ripped to sheds.There seems to be a “beast” in the area that has a craving for canine cuisine. We are then introduced to the Fitzgerald sisters, Brigitte (Emily Perkins), 15, and Ginger (Katherine Isabelle), 16, who have a morbid fascination with death and the creation of static death scenes. So much so, that they produce realistic photos of their own demise, in various poses, for a school project.Both girls are late bloomers when it comes to the womanly “curse” and on the night that Ginger starts her trek through the unknown realms of puberty she gets attacked by what is later correctly assumed to be a werewolf.I was really sceptical about this film at first. My friend recomeded it to me and the way she described it sounded like a Buffy the Vampire Slayer rip off. How wrong was I.Ginger Snaps is probably the most original werewolf movie since The Howling. It succeeds where other werewolf movies have failed because it refuses to stay inside the Hollywood designed mythos - the supposed rules that silver is deadly, werewolfs only come out during the full moon, etc. Instead, Ginger Snaps returns to some of the more obscure medieval legends and puts a modern twist to them.
Ginger Snaps also succeeds in creating an atmosphere of continuing wonder and anxiousness about what is going to happen next.And while you are on the edge of your seat, a dark humor is thrown in periodically and effectively to take you off of that edge just to turn you around and put you right back again.
- Great acting
- Strong Leads
- Amazingly original story
- Great special effects (the wolf looks amazing)
:) I stayed up watching this on IFC a year ago and couldn't shut up about it for like a month! Have u seen the sequel?!...I haven't --can't remember what it's called right now either...
ReplyDeleteIm still in awe of the movie. Its sooo cool (and sad:(
ReplyDeleteNo i havnt seen the sequel but I heard bad things about it. I think its called Ginger Snaps 2:Unleashed...something along those lines.
Great review. Personally, this movie didn't do it for me. I get that some people enjoy it because of the analogy to puberty and the unique female roles. But I watched this movie to see a horror werewolf movie and it did not deliver.
ReplyDeleteIf you get the chance, you should check out my review. I can always use more feedback.
http://horrormoviemedication.blogspot.com/2013/03/ginger-snaps-werewolves-during-that.html