Snap happy (Ginger Snaps (DVD))

Member Name: pliskinberry

Product:	Ginger Snaps (DVD)
Date:	08/03/09 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Different, real, tense, cult, memorable

Disadvantages: langauge and violence but the could be advantages.

"Ginger Snaps" is an underground film from 2000 that shot to cult status very quickly. I originally watched the film about 5 years ago on the sci-fi channel and it stuck with me even until this day. It's easy to see why the film reached such acclaim as it has all the hallmarks that are needed to make a cult classic, "Ginger Snaps" is a funny, memorable and visceral story about two sisters growing up. And one of them is turning into a werewolf.

The story follows Bridgitte and Ginger Fitzgerald (played by Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle respectively) two young death-obsessed girls in a small town in Canada. They spend their days elaborately faking their own deaths, smoking and avoiding the various bullies who taunt them. The sisters are emotionally dependant on one another and even have a suicide pact where they will "Be out by 16 or dead on the scene", and as such spend every waking hour with each other. Early on Ginger gets viciously mauled by a strange large animal (aka werewolf) and despite Bridgitte's attempts to help she is infected. Rather than the film focusing on Gingers escapades every full moon the story revolves around a much longer transformation. Gingers personality change, much to the detriment of her relationship with Bridgitte, is the key theme here. As is Bridgitte's attempt to save her sister, although the siblings are at breaking point with one another.

The films attraction lies within the fact that it is not like other werewolf movies. It is easier to draw parallels with stories that revolve around drug-abuse; Person A starts to take heroin while person B tries to help, leading to inevitable downward spiral. It is even easier to find similarities with films about growing up, alienation and change within the lead characters because that is essentially what the film is. I could talk for a while about how the werewolf is an allegory for a disenchanted, angry young woman growing up and lashing out at those around her. But I wont.

The acting is astounding from both lead actresses, the entire cast are all well chosen but Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle stand out as one of the better horror performances I have seen in a long time. The two work together so well and despite obvious physical differences they are believably sisters which is important, it being the crux of the film. The script, apart from a few cringe worthy bits at the beginning, is very good. Particularly the dialogue. Although the language and subject matter may be a bit harsh for some viewers I thought it was very real and palpable. The characters themselves take a little bit of poetic license as they tend to be extreme archetypes as opposed to developed, nuanced people. With the exception of Bridgitte when she is not talking about suicide and is instead trying to save her sister.

This is a minor gripe though as the characters may not be completely believable but are still entertaining and strangely likeable. For example Drug-dealer/Botanist Sam (Kris Lemche) who takes it upon himself to help the sisters for some reason is very inconsistent but very forgivable, you only really notice the character flaws on reflection and even then it doesn't bother you.

The Direction from John Fawcett is great for this type of film. Slow, long Indie style shots that match perfectly with the general feel and tension of the poignant dialogue scenes are very quickly followed with sharp, fast movements for when the (very) bloody bits occur adequately throwing us from the growing-pains-drama genre to the horror genre in one swift movement helpfully melding the two extreme styles together.

Apparently Fawcett made a deliberate choice not to use any CGI and instead just make-up and animatronics and I believe this may have been a slightly bad idea. although the film looks great a lot of the time (including special effects as well as cinematography) there are a few annoying discrepancies that catch the eye. Almost ruining the tension and drama that had been building.

Overall "Ginger Snaps" is an excellent film. It is a horror with a difference and deserves the cult name it has made for itself. No single aspect of the film is outstanding but putting all pieces of the film together reveals an excellent story that should be watched by most people.

Summary: Fantastic film