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I finally got round to watching it, I can't believe I've waited so long to actually view it, but I'm glad I did. Today, I'll be reviewing the Canadian hit, Ginger Snaps! Be warned though, this one contains spoilers in the negative section! 
The plot follows two death obsessed and macabre sisters, Ginger, 16 (Katharine Isabelle) and her younger, more introverted sister, Brigitte, 15 (Emily Perkins). Whilst out late at night, attempting to stage a gruesome prank, Ginger has her first period, which attracts the attentions of a nearby werewolf that viciously attacks and brutalises her. Whilst she survives, Ginger begins experiencing some drastic bodily changes, and must attempt to find a resolution immediately.
Positives
I don't think this film would be anywhere near as authentic or effective without the involvement of its two leads, Katharine Isabelle and Emily Perkins. And having seen Ms. Isabelle in the love-it-or-hate-it American Mary, something that becomes heavily apparent is how she almost underplays the more sinister and extreme aspects of her characters, she's subtle and therefore makes whatever comes her way believable. I'd say the same for Emily Perkins too, considering she had plenty of opportunities to break out of character and over emphasise and exaggerate particular circumstances, and because her character is such a unique one, staying strictly within her traits and characteristics is quite impressive. Isabelle and Perkins also complement each other on screen, the script never lets them down and they respond to each other naturally, it never feels forced. I have to praise Mimi Rogers for playing their mother, whose scenes provide the little amount of black comedy the film provides. It's a comedic role, yet towards the climax, she makes a more emotional turn, and it is very impacting.
The supporting cast are all pretty adequate, although this is a film focusing on the female experience, and as such the males don't take the limelight here and aren't given a lot to do anyway, but none of them were bad either.
I loved the script here! Lycanthropy has frequently been employed as a metaphor for puberty, but never before through the female perspective, as such, it is an original film and a new interpretation on a common theme. The dialogue was consistently good throughout, and true to how the characters were established in the beginning. The pacing felt just right, and the emphasis on the psychological effects Ginger's transformation is having on both herself and her sister genuinely make us sympathise for the characters, which made me extremely upset when the credits started rolling due to the tragic, but fitting, ending.
As with most other elements in the film, the direction is strong as well as consistent. It's dark, and never wastes its time by implementing pointless humour scenes that aren't appropriate to the tone of the film. With that being said, there is dark humour (as in very dark) and it's never over-bearing or too much of a shift away from the focus of the film. For example, Ginger and B's mother, Pamela, is terrifyingly robotic in her own way. Additionally, the film manages to include some tense moments, particularly in the conclusion as well as Ginger' initial attack from the vicious hound.
The score was particularly atmospheric too, but it was also resonant with the tone of the film, for it was dark but pretty devastating too. Simple, yet fantastic in other words
Negatives
Some moments got on my nerves a bit, particularly towards the end where Brigitte is trying to inject her sister with the cure. She had numerous opportunities to stab her with the stuff, but instead she fatally stabs her to death with a large kitchen knife. I mean, I can see why it was done, because the ending was truly heart breaking, and I was genuinely on the verge of tears! But still, the whole scenario was extremely drawn out, and just got a bit repetitive after a short while.
Also, no one ever seems to notice Ginger's teeth changing into full on fangs. Literally no one, and they're hardly discrete.
But as you can probably tell at this stage, I'm nit-picking because there's very little not to like with this effort. I wouldn't say it's scary though, and moments filled with tension are separated with too much of an interim before they all come thick and heavy at once. But as I mentioned before, the pacing did feel right, and although those violent sections consecutively follow each other, they're nonetheless startling.
Conclusion
It's a low budget affair, although it's as heartbreaking and emotionally devastating as anything produced with a much greater budget. Nevertheless, despite the terrific cast and script, I wouldn't call it scary, and the special effects don't help that cause either. I still hugely enjoyed it, and anyone looking for anything a bit different should certainly give it a look!
The plot follows two death obsessed and macabre sisters, Ginger, 16 (Katharine Isabelle) and her younger, more introverted sister, Brigitte, 15 (Emily Perkins). Whilst out late at night, attempting to stage a gruesome prank, Ginger has her first period, which attracts the attentions of a nearby werewolf that viciously attacks and brutalises her. Whilst she survives, Ginger begins experiencing some drastic bodily changes, and must attempt to find a resolution immediately.
Positives
I don't think this film would be anywhere near as authentic or effective without the involvement of its two leads, Katharine Isabelle and Emily Perkins. And having seen Ms. Isabelle in the love-it-or-hate-it American Mary, something that becomes heavily apparent is how she almost underplays the more sinister and extreme aspects of her characters, she's subtle and therefore makes whatever comes her way believable. I'd say the same for Emily Perkins too, considering she had plenty of opportunities to break out of character and over emphasise and exaggerate particular circumstances, and because her character is such a unique one, staying strictly within her traits and characteristics is quite impressive. Isabelle and Perkins also complement each other on screen, the script never lets them down and they respond to each other naturally, it never feels forced. I have to praise Mimi Rogers for playing their mother, whose scenes provide the little amount of black comedy the film provides. It's a comedic role, yet towards the climax, she makes a more emotional turn, and it is very impacting.
The supporting cast are all pretty adequate, although this is a film focusing on the female experience, and as such the males don't take the limelight here and aren't given a lot to do anyway, but none of them were bad either.
I loved the script here! Lycanthropy has frequently been employed as a metaphor for puberty, but never before through the female perspective, as such, it is an original film and a new interpretation on a common theme. The dialogue was consistently good throughout, and true to how the characters were established in the beginning. The pacing felt just right, and the emphasis on the psychological effects Ginger's transformation is having on both herself and her sister genuinely make us sympathise for the characters, which made me extremely upset when the credits started rolling due to the tragic, but fitting, ending.
As with most other elements in the film, the direction is strong as well as consistent. It's dark, and never wastes its time by implementing pointless humour scenes that aren't appropriate to the tone of the film. With that being said, there is dark humour (as in very dark) and it's never over-bearing or too much of a shift away from the focus of the film. For example, Ginger and B's mother, Pamela, is terrifyingly robotic in her own way. Additionally, the film manages to include some tense moments, particularly in the conclusion as well as Ginger' initial attack from the vicious hound.
The score was particularly atmospheric too, but it was also resonant with the tone of the film, for it was dark but pretty devastating too. Simple, yet fantastic in other words
Negatives
Some moments got on my nerves a bit, particularly towards the end where Brigitte is trying to inject her sister with the cure. She had numerous opportunities to stab her with the stuff, but instead she fatally stabs her to death with a large kitchen knife. I mean, I can see why it was done, because the ending was truly heart breaking, and I was genuinely on the verge of tears! But still, the whole scenario was extremely drawn out, and just got a bit repetitive after a short while.
Also, no one ever seems to notice Ginger's teeth changing into full on fangs. Literally no one, and they're hardly discrete.
But as you can probably tell at this stage, I'm nit-picking because there's very little not to like with this effort. I wouldn't say it's scary though, and moments filled with tension are separated with too much of an interim before they all come thick and heavy at once. But as I mentioned before, the pacing did feel right, and although those violent sections consecutively follow each other, they're nonetheless startling.
Conclusion
It's a low budget affair, although it's as heartbreaking and emotionally devastating as anything produced with a much greater budget. Nevertheless, despite the terrific cast and script, I wouldn't call it scary, and the special effects don't help that cause either. I still hugely enjoyed it, and anyone looking for anything a bit different should certainly give it a look!