Ginger Snaps (2000)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

John Fawcett

Writers:

Karen Walton (story) &
John Fawcett (story) ...

Release Date:

11 May 2001 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

She's got the curse

Plot:

This film uses werewolfism as a metaphor for puberty. One of the Fitzgerald sisters, suburban goth girl outcasts, gets bitten by something in the woods (and it ain't a neighborhood dog).

Plot Keywords:

Werewolf | Dog | Goth Girl | Goth | Halloween

Awards:

8 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Emily Perkins	...	Brigitte
Katharine Isabelle	...	Ginger
Kris Lemche	...	Sam
Mimi Rogers	...	Pamela
Jesse Moss	...	Jason
Danielle Hampton	...	Trina
John Bourgeois	...	Henry
Peter Keleghan	...	Mr. Wayne
Christopher Redman	...	Ben
Jimmy MacInnis	...	Tim
Lindsay Leese	...	Nurse Ferry
Wendii Fulford	...	Ms. Sykes
Ann Baggley	...	Mother
Graeme Robertson	...	Toddler
Maxwell Robertson	...	Toddler

Runtime:

108 min | Argentina:110 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Italy:VM14 | Brazil:18 (DVD rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Finland:K-18 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:C | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Copperheart Entertainment

Trivia:

Although Katharine Isabelle is supposed to be playing Emily Perkins' older sister, she is actually five years younger than Emily in real life.

Goofs:

Continuity: The amount of serum in the last syringe.

Quotes:

Ginger: You picked Sam over me, anything that happens now it is your fault!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "SexTV: Dark Desires: Sexuality in the Horror Film (#5.15)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Of One Blood

A rare beast indeed - a good teen horror!

Sisters Ginger and Brigitte are walking through the park when Ginger is attacked by some sort of wolf that leaves her badly cut before they get away. With Ginger on her period already she is upset about the various changes happening to her body but it is apparent to Brigitte that the changes occurring to Ginger are more sinister and she tries to find a solution.

Despite the fact that the title is far too clever and silly for the film it announces this is actually a very strong teen horror. In the midst of the usual teen slasher movies, this film stands out as one that doesn't fall into the usual clichés (either accidentally or knowingly) and just concentrates on being a good film. The script cleverly uses the changes of teenage years and the changes of the werewolf as one and it works very well on the whole. Ginger's change is gradual and well done by the script.

The film is gory but not in a bloodlust type way where teens are bumped off in gory ways for audience amusement. Here the film builds gradually with blood a constant thing but not in a sensationalist way. When the film comes to a close, it does well to not be diminishing by the sight of the wolf itself - often the hint of the creature is better than the actual effects, both work here. The cast are good on the whole. Of course the support cast do play the usual teen stereotypes but, unlike other of this genre, they are not just fodder. The best playing comes from Isabelle and Perkins- the former especially giving a really good performance that makes the script alive.

Overall this was a very pleasant surprise - a good teen horror movie. It may lack the clichés of it's peers, and maybe that is why it is not as well known as the others, but it is a great little film and, if you need any further evidence of it's calibre - the ending is one of taste and restraint, words not often associated with teenage slasher movies.