GINGER SNAPS happens to be my favorite werewolf movies because it grounds itself with horror and humor by being the first film to tie the female menstrual cycle and lycanthropy with the lunar cycle. The movie revolves around 15 year old Brigitte Fitzgerald (Emily Perkins) and her nearly 16 year old sister Ginger (the awesome Katharine Isabelle) are best friends and outcast who are obsessed with death that they stage and photograph death scenes (which probably would get lots of traffic on Flickr, Deviant Art, and Tumblr these days).  They have made a pact to stay together forever and they want out of their mind numbing existence in the middle of nowhere town of Bailey Downs.  One night, they are attacked by a werewolf and Ginger is injured.   Brigitte soon learns that Ginger can heal fast and she is changing that Brigitte seeks a way to curb Ginger’s new activities and find a cure. 

 

After 15 years, GINGER SNAPS still stands up as a brilliant piece of filmmaking that manages to blend a high school story with horror; Katharine Isabelle steals the movie while Emily Perkins perfectly channels the character of Brigitte in this tale directed by John Fawcett and written by Karen Walton who would go on to be part of the great cult show ORPHAN BLACK years later (but ORPHAN BLACK star Tatiana Maslany would be part of the cast for GINGER SNAPS 2 a decade before she found her famous clones roles).  I do wish they kept a couple of the deleted scenes movies in like the “PMS is the least of your problems” scenes.   GINGER SNAPS manages to blend a couple of different genres while taping in what great horror movies should be like.   Check it out if you haven’t seen this horror gem yet or rediscover it if you have seen it years ago.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Two feature film audio commentaries- one with director John Fawcett and the other with writer Karen Walton.  I have to say Karen’s audio commentary is more interesting to listen to than John’s even when it comes to the deleted scenes audio commentaries.

 

GINER SNAPS: BLOOD, TEETH AND FUR (67 minutes approx)- interviews with director John Fawcett, writer Karen Walton, actors Emily Perkins and Jess Moss, Make-Up Effects Artist Paul Jones and Composer Mike Jones form this retrospective documentary about the origins and making of GINGER SNAPS to how it finally got fans after the theatrical run bombed in the US and Canada.  I wish they got Katharine Isabelle interviewed for this documentary, but there are plenty of stories including how Columbine School tragedy made it difficult for them to get it cast at first and find locations to use.

GROWING PAINS: PUBERTY IN HORROR FILMS (27 minutes)- a horror panel of women (horror magazine writers/directors/ fans Kristy Jett, Axelle Carolyn, Heidi Honeycutt, and Rebekah McKendry ) discuss how puberty is reflected in horror films like GINGER SNAPS, CARRIE, and THE CRAFT from comparing it to reality and which movie they relate to more.

 

25 minutes of deleted scenes (in 1.33:1 timed coded format probably from a video tape source with optional commentary tracks with Director John Fawcett and Writer Karen Walton) which contains many gems that were cut for pacing reasons, but it shows how great Katharine Isabelle is and the fate of some of the supporting characters that ended up on the cutting room floor.

 

Short promotional featurette

 

Cast Auditions and Rehearsals (18 minutes) are interesting to watch to see Katharine and Emily gel together as the perfect Ginger and Brigitte the director was looking for and it is odd to see Emily Perkins with short hair (she wore a wig in the first GINGER SNAPS film)

CREATION OF THE BEAST- a quick look at the creation of the werewolf of GINGER SNAPS

BEING JOHN FAWCETT- a two minute fun bit from the rehearsals between the director and stars of the film: Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle

 

Theatrical trailers and two TV spots in addition to the production design artwork which shows that production team had a sense of humor

 

FINAL ANALYSIS: GINGER SNAPOS is one of the best werewolf movies ever made as it ties in puberty, change, and werewolves in one.   It is a gem that has aged well for being 15 years old.  The extras are also worth checking out especially the deleted scenes, the auditions, and the retrospective documentary.

 

This review is ©8-1-2014 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments-to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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