Ginger Snaps (2000) - An Underrated Creature Thriller

Let’s forget about the Hollywood rules - there’s a werewolf on the loose!

Ginger Snaps transformed in theaters in 2000. Two goth sisters, Brigitte and Ginger, discover a strange situation that sets apart their definition of peculiar. Ginger is bitten by a werewolf and slowly transforms into an un-human creature. Brigitte races to find a cure before her sister transforms.

One may think all werewolf films have the same story. Look no further, Ginger Snaps is a terrifying, underrated, and heartwarming creature film that’s more about the bond between two sisters. It’s an engaging and on-edge story that splatters blood and teen drama.

After six months of searching for actresses, the instant Emily Perkins and Katherine Isabelle auditioned together, the studio found their sisters. Perkins and Isabelle connected and formed a believable bond. They delivered excellent acting, manifesting their characters and believable terror.

Brigitte and Ginger have strange and dark personalities, but their relationship is strong. As Ginger’s strange behavior progresses, Brigitte never gives up on her.

Fans of the 1990 IT miniseries will recognise Emily Perkins who played young Beverly Marsh. As for Katherine Isabelle, she had a small role in Carrie (2002) as Tina, a vile bully. Me wanting to strangle her character in that movie is a total contrast to wanting to give her a hug in Ginger Snaps. Isabelle is a talented actress.

Credits for this werewolf picture include Kris Lemche, Mimi Rogers, Jesse Moss, Danielle Hampton, John Bourgeois, and Peter Keleghan. The characters may act like the typical stereotypes, but their roles are more important than that.

My favorite supporting role is Pamela (Mimi Rogers), the girl’s overly cheerful mother. Any other actress would have made this character one-dimensional, but Rogers enforces a different portrayal. Instead of portraying the usual mother who is tired or disappointed, Pamela is understanding and supportive of her daughters' exotic lives.

Not even five minutes in and the gore button is pushed. Taking place in a small town, a strange vibe inhabits the air with foreboding music. Gruesome bodies of dead animals are shown. The sisters also like to do ‘dead projects’ where they act as victims and take graphic and bloody pictures.

Some scenes are unbearable to watch, save for the transformation scene. Ginger’s wolf transformations are disturbing, but incredible to watch. John Fawcett refused CGI and opted for practical prosthetics and makeup. Good for him! CGI destroys realism. Isabelle spent three hours (some sources say seven hours!) in the makeup chair for her wolf makeup.

Ginger Snaps is not your average teen drama, breaking these cliches. The message is about being happy with who you are. High school is not an easy time. While the girls don’t care about what others say about them, Ginger likes the attention when this transformation takes over. We should be happy about who we are and not seek attention.

There was some apprehension when releasing Ginger Snaps due to the film featuring teenagers in violent situations and negative women portrayals. Because of school shootings, like the infamous Columbine High School shooting, production had to be careful when distributing Ginger Snaps. Unfortunately, the film was banned in the UK for its violent content.

This film wasn’t just a horror project. Filmmakers wanted to ensure that Ginger Snaps would impact audiences in the right way so the story endured several polishes before filming started. I have not seen many horror films do that lately.

Ginger Snaps wasn’t a hit when it was first released, but got the recognition it deserved when released on VHS. Check out this underrated werewolf film this October.