Ginger Snaps (2000)
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Two morbid teenage sisters face a terrifying transformation when one is bitten by a creature that turns her into a werewolf.
The story
In the quiet suburb of Bailey Downs, Ontario, teenage sisters Brigitte and Ginger Fitzgerald share a morbid fascination with death and a pact to leave their home by age 16. While attempting to kidnap a dog from a school bully, Ginger begins her first period, attracting a mysterious creature that bites her. As Ginger begins to undergo a painful and aggressive physical transformation, Brigitte becomes increasingly concerned. The sisters must navigate the escalating danger as Ginger's behavior turns violent and her werewolf nature begins to manifest, forcing them to seek out a local drug dealer to find a way to stop the metamorphosis.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After Ginger is bitten by a werewolf, she begins to transform, sprouting a tail and exhibiting aggressive behavior. Brigitte seeks help from a local drug dealer, Sam, who confirms the werewolf attack and suggests a monkshood extract as a cure. The situation escalates when Trina, a school bully, accuses the sisters of kidnapping her dog and is accidentally killed by Ginger; the sisters hide her body in a freezer. On Halloween, Brigitte obtains the monkshood extract from Sam. After Brigitte is attacked by an infected classmate, she uses the extract to cure him. However, Ginger's transformation accelerates, and she kills a counselor and a janitor at school. During a Halloween party, Brigitte manages to infect herself with Ginger's blood to show loyalty, but Ginger eventually transforms fully and escapes. Brigitte and Sam attempt to create more of the cure, but Ginger mutilates Sam. Brigitte tries to calm Ginger by drinking Sam's blood but fails. In their childhood room, Ginger lunges at Brigitte, and Brigitte fatally wounds her sister with a knife. Brigitte weeps over her dying sister's body.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- Canada
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Fawcett
- Writers
- Karen Walton · screenplay; Karen Walton · story; John Fawcett · story
- Cast and characters
- Emily Perkins · Brigitte; Katharine Isabelle · Ginger; Kris Lemche · Sam; Mimi Rogers · Pamela; Nick Nolan · the Beast of Bailey Downs / Gingerwolf
- Genres
- supernatural horror; coming-of-age
- Themes
- puberty; feminist themes; female bonds
- Tone and mood
- dark humour; horror
- Premise and plot tags
- werewolf; sisters; metamorphosis; horror
- Franchise connections
- Ginger Snaps
- Reception
- The film was a critical success and has since amassed a cult following. It was praised for its acting, use of lycanthropy as a metaphor for puberty, and dark humor, though some critics found the puberty metaphor too obvious.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 90% · review count: 61; Metacritic · score: 70 · scale: 100 · review count: 9
- Awards and nominations
- Genie · editing · nominated; Genie · sound editing · nominated
- Production trivia
- Scarlett Johansson was originally offered the role of Brigitte.; The film's special effects eschewed CGI in favor of traditional prosthetics and make-up.; The music video for Sabrina Carpenter's 'Taste' features a visual reference to a scene where a character is impaled by a white picket fence.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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