GINGER SNAPS

Canada, 2000, 110 minutes, Colour.
Emily Perkins, Katherine Isabel, Kris Lemche, Mimi Rogers.
Directed by John Fawcett.

Ginger Snaps has become something of a cult film, winning awards on its immediate release.

It is a Canadian variation of the high school film – but introducing aspects of the slasher films but, more importantly, introducing the werewolf theme.

Emily Perkins is particularly good as Brigitte, the younger sister of Ginger. They have a Gothic perspective on life, talk about death and suicide, do assignments for school on brutal death.

There is a werewolf loose in the area, ordinary suburbia, and eventually it bites Ginger. She gradually transforms into a werewolf, continuing her ordinary behaviour at school but becoming more sinister. Brigitte finds all kinds of means to help her. However, she has a pact with her sister and the end is ambiguous. (However, there were two sequels.)

Mimi Rogers portrays a rather ditzy mother. The father in the family is the silent type, letting things happen.

The film was small-budget, has some special effects, especially for the werewolf and the transformation of Ginger.

1.The cult status of the film? Amongst horror film fans?

2.Canadian production, suburbia, the ordinary homes and streets, school?

3.Lycanthropy, the myths, the traditions, the film tradition, the werewolves, the moon, blood, the attacks, the transformations, the herbs for cure? The variety of cures and ways of confronting a werewolf? The way they were used in this film?

4.The title, the play on words, Ginger and her breakdown?

5.The quiet introduction, the suburbs, the effect of the dead dog? The yard, the children playing and ignoring the screaming mother? Ginger and Brigitte, their talk, their pacts, talk of suicide, meaninglessness in life? The photos during the credits, the project, showing it at school, the reaction of the teacher (and later Ginger killing him)?

6.The age of the girls, puberty, the discussions about periods, menstruation, blood, changes? A metaphor for what was happening to Ginger?

7.The two sisters, their closeness, age, the effect of their morbidity, isolated? Their chirpy mother, the silent father? The talk at meals, discipline in the house?

8.School, the assignment? Sport and Ginger fighting? The rivalry with the girls, their looking down on the two sisters? The boys, the lewd talk, Jason and his flirting? The girls and their hostility?

9.The walk in the woods, the girls being pursued, the dead dog, their running, Ginger and her being bitten, Sam and his truck, hitting the werewolf?

10.Ginger and her transformation, gradual, the wounds, healing, the hair, the tail? Going into the van with the drugs? Jason and the sexual experience, his wounds? The reaction of the boys at school to him? The further changes, at school, the death of the teacher? Sports? The dogs? Her willingness to admit what was happening or not?

11.Brigitte and Sam, Sam and his concern, talking to Brigitte, her pretending that the cure was for herself? Reading up the background, the information, the ring for Ginger? Her throwing it away? The herbs, mother bringing them home? The syringe, injecting Jason, his cure? Sam and the truth?

12.Ginger becoming more monstrous, alienated, going to Sam, the advances, his rejection, her attack on him?

13.Brigitte, confiding in her mother, going to the party?

14.Ginger, the attack on Sam, his death?

15.Brigitte, her emotions, sympathy for Ginger, killing the beast, tasting the blood, willing to be transformed?

16.The opening for sequels – which was taken?