Reviewer's Rating 3 out of 5 Μύ
Ginger Snaps (2001)
18

Where to start with "Ginger Snaps"? A weird but rather effective little movie, that's a kind of cross between "", "Clueless", and "An American Werewolf In London".

Brigitte (Perkins) and Ginger (Isabelle) Fitzgerald are a pair of loners, sisters by blood and sisters in their isolation from the rest of society. But things take a nasty turn for the worst when Ginge is attacked by a vicious beast that has been killing the local canine population.

Turns out it's actually a lycanthrope (that's werewolf to you and me) - and before long Ginger starts to exhibit the signs of someone turning steadily into a similar monster. Her only salvation is Brigitte, who along with local drug dealer Sam (Lemche), tries to reverse the process before people get hurt. Not an easy task, as Ginger's teenage hormones begin to flex their muscle, with her sexuality and volatile temperament soon rising to the fore.

But this is not just another monster movie. "Ginger Snaps" succeeds exactly because it is not 'just' anything. The young actors are fantastic and there are several well-crafted twists on the genre, not least the female angle, which gives the aggressive nature of the wolf an added edge. And like "An American Werewolf in London", it skilfully combines dollops of dark humour with gore and scares, making good use of the limited effects budget.

If there's anything wrong with it, it's the deeply unsatisfying ending but otherwise, go see this - just make sure it's not a full moon.

End Credits

Director: John Fawcett

Writer: Karen Walton

Stars: Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Kris Lemche, Mimi Rogers

Genre: Horror

Length: 104 minutes

Cinema: 29 June 2001

Country: Canada/USA

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