I saw a werewolf drinkin’ a piña colada at Trader Vic’s and his hair was perfect. – Warren Zevon
Two death obsessed teenaged sisters, Ginger & Brigette encounter a werewolf. The former gets bitten. She miraculously heals as if nothing happened. Th older sister experiences aggressive symptoms both physically and mentally. Brigette puts two and two together confirming Ginger’s slowly transforming into a werewolf. Before a full moon commences, Brigette must find a cure or else Ginger will harm others.
“Ginger Snaps” officially premiered in 2000 (same year Final Destination came out) at the Toronto Film Festival and given a limited release in America almost a year later. It received praise and was a commercial flop failing to recoup its $4.5 million budget. Overtime, the film gained a cult following thanks to DVD sales. A sequel and prequel were released in 2004. Anyway, I have one reason why I wanna share my opinion on Ginger Snaps.
Robert Eggers’ highly anticipated “Werewulf” with Aaron Taylor-Johnson will be released on December 25, 2026. Approximately a week after “Avengers: Doomsday” & “Dune: Part Three.”
Today’s review contains no SPOILERS. I’m giving you a chance to see this cult classic.
Lifted & Cursed Aspects
Lifted: Katharine Isabelle (Tanya Francke from Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia) & Emily Perkins both did a splendid job for their respective performances.
John Fawcett (Orphan Black) did a decent job directing.
Karen Walton wrote the script.
Scare Factor has some legit scares.
Death Scenes are brutal and not for anybody with a weak stomach.
Prosthetic Makeup transformed Katharine slowly turning into a werewolf.
Practical Effects were heavily involved.
Pacing wasn’t a slow burn. My eyes were glued to the screen.
Chemistry between Ginger & Brigitte serves as the main highlight.
The film’s influenced by “An American Werewolf in London,” David Cronenberg’s “The Fly” & “Heavenly Creatures.”
Ginger’s werewolf symptoms are a metaphor of a girl experiencing puberty. If you’re a female, you know it’s not pleasant.
Character Development involving Ginger. As the film progresses, she displays animalistic tendencies.
Fun Facts
- Lucy Lawless has an credited voice cameo as a school announcer on PA system.
- Katharine & Emily appeared in Christopher Nolan’s “Insomnia.” The former played the victim’s best friend, Tanya. The latter made a small appearance at the victim’s funeral reading a speech. I would assume Chris is a fan of Ginger Snaps.
- Natasha Lyonne & Sarah Polley were considered to play Brigette.
Random Thoughts
- First time I heard about Ginger Snaps was Sabrina Carpenter’s music video, “Taste.” She and Jenna Ortega recreated a scene from the film. I’m giving Ms. Carpenter & Ms. Ortega credit for introducing me to this cult classic.
- I watched Ginger Snaps on Halloween 2026. I’ve yet to see the sequel and prequel.
Cursed: Cinematography’s shaky at times.
A really dumb moment. When Brigitte tests out an antidote on an infected teenaged boy, he awkwardly walks away. Doesn’t acknowledge he’s one-hundred percent better.
The Final Verdict: B, FOR BREATHTAKING!
Despite two drawbacks, Ginger Snaps still holds up. If you’re preparing for Robert Eggers “Werewulf” this Christmas, check out the aforementioned werewolf cult classic. Which werewolf movies should I watch and review next? Please leave a comment and don’t forget to subscribe.
