Tagline: "Hungry like the Wolf."
What The Tagline Should Be: "Lycanthropy changes a girl. Period."
Synopsis:
When choosing a film to watch, it is best to remember this: Be wary of films which have tag lines reminiscent of bad Duran Duran songs. Be especially wary of films which have tag lines reminiscent of bad Duran Duran songs that conjure images of bad made-for-TV movies. "Hungry like the wolf," indeed.
When I first came across "Ginger Snaps" on premium cable one late evening I was under the impression it was the Famous Amos story. It was not. Instead this was a film which heralded itself to be the story of two sexy Goth girls who become intimately acquainted with menstruation and lycanthropy. The problems begin when the viewer learns that these two young ladies are not very sexy, the menstrual irony quickly devolves into a bad grade school exploration of female anatomy, and the werewolf would look much more at home in the Mos Eisley cantina. This is not exactly a bad film. However, it takes itself much too seriously rather than embracing the campiness. It is apparent that the filmmakers intended a "biting" (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun) social commentary that was both cool, sexy, and disturbing. The delivery, though, is almost as hip and sexy as your father at a rave ... and not quite as disturbing. However, it was interesting enough for me to pick up when I came across it at a flea market for seven dollars.
Story Overview:
"Ginger Snaps" is the touching story of outcast sisters Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald. Desperately devoted to each other and tragically detached from their world, the doting sisters have a gruesome promise: "Out by sixteen. Or dead in this scene. Together. Forever." Enthralled with the idea of suicide, the sisters often discuss their manner of expiration ... even going as far as to do a photographic essay on the methods of suicide as a class project. Certainly they must be lovely girls, eh? Of course, a brush with certain death in the form of a werewolf-like creature leaves the girls on the opposite side of the wants-to-die/wants-to-live fence. An attack by a mythical creature will change a person.
I really want to digress right here and say that this is really not that terrible of a movie. The acting is really quite good for a film of its genre and the effects are well done. The effects are natural, and not CGI, and to me that adds a lot of style points. However, the only real gripe I have with this film is with the werewolf. I mean ... come on! Look at this thing! It's not hairy enough! It's too bony! It's too pink, and the head looks too much like something you'd buy off of the bargain Halloween rack down at Walgreen's. The werewolf sucks. There, I said it. This was a perfectly good werewolf movie ruined by a hideous werewolf design. Come on, guys ... a little less "Howling," a little more John York.
So, Ginger's metamorphosis into a lupine beast coincides with her descent (or is that ascent?) into womanhood, as she uses her budding sensuality and bestial instincts to become a sexual predator. Meanwhile, Brigitte befriends the town dope pusher in an effort to find a "werewolf antidote" for Ginger's growing tail ... and perhaps to get some tail herself (insert "boo's" here). Does it all come together? Can Brigitte and her gentleman friend make it to Ginger before she makes Deviled Ham out of some poor jock? Well, I'm not going to tell you. The movie is actually good enough for you to want to watch and find out on your own.
That being said, I have a friend who went to this film with high expectations and was incredibly disappointed. I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. You have been warned.
Top Five Things To Look For:
Canada
Baxter Chunks
Some Cute Tail
Head Shot
Mimi Rogers in a believable role
Line Of The Film:
"I wish these were babies' legs." --Ginger, in response to her fried chicken dinner. She was kidding ... we think.
Objectionable Material:
This film contains plenty of cursing, and a fair amount of gore. Aside from numerous innuendoes and sensual situations, there is no sex involved. Nudity? Well ... we see a naked human rear with a werewolf tale, and a werewolf with a naked human breast. Does that count as nudity to you? I'm stumped.
Shriek Siren:
Emily Perkins
This film provided quite the dilemma for choosing a Siren. Here, we are presented with two viable young attractive females who each meet the criteria for holding such a title. However, I have decided to go against conventional wisdom in choosing the slightly less attractive (less attractive by People Magazine standards) young lady and delightfully crown Emily Perkins as this movie's Shriek Siren. She's a strong heroine, growing out of her sister's shadow and coming of age as she must fight for her life alone. She has a certain girl-next-door charm, and is quite convincing in her role as outcast wallflower. Emily also has a great Siren background, having been previously seen in the television adaptation of Stephen King's "It." Will we see more of this young Canadian thespian? Well, with "Ginger Snaps 2" on the way, we can only hope.
Moral Of The Story:
If you ever have the chance to date either of two sisters, always choose the less pretty of the two. The beautiful one always kills you.
