Ginger Snaps released on July 22 in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo edition from Scream Factory.
When the misanthropic teenage Fitzgerald sisters are attacked by a werewolf, older sis Ginger soon begin to show signs of turning while her younger sibling Brigitte tries to deal with the worsening situation.
The sisters are grungy loners who hate the world and generally feel surrounded by stupidity and superficiality, and trust only each other. I imagine that there’s a subset of fans of this film who love it because they identify with these specific aspects of the characters, and while I sort of get it, I’m not exactly one of them.
I actually got off to a rough start with the film. I went in with the understandable — but incorrect — assumption that Ginger would be the main character, so when she is almost immediately revealed to be a rather vile person — cruel, spiteful, bullying, and self-absorbed — I started to get the feeling I might really hate this movie. (Thankfully that wasn’t the case.)
Younger sister Brigitte, meanwhile, is timid and quiet, ever in Ginger’s shadow and allowing herself to be bossed by her more obnoxious sister. This is so subtle at first that I didn’t even realize it was happening, but it becomes more evident that their relationship is defined by Brigitte’s passiveness and Ginger’s domineering. Still, the pair are best friends who ultimately love each other, and both their friendship and sisterly love are about to be put to the test. When Ginger gets bitten, her transformation repositions her as the film’s villain, allowing Brigitte to emerge from the shadows and transition into the role of an independent, self-motivating protagonist.
On the surface, Ginger Snaps may seem like your typical late 90’s Dimension Home Video DTV junk (and its lineup of cheesy posters and DVD covers certainly won’t dissuade that kind of thinking), but it really is better than that, thanks to an insidiously clever script by Karen Walton and plenty of smart maneuvering around tropes and stereotypes.
Ginger’s werewolf bite comes just as she has begun her very first menstruation, and the script definitely uses this as a way to not only add confusion to the situation, but to create a metaphor for the audience. Ginger’s at the age where her body is going through changes, such as “hair in new places”, and she is assured by her school nurse that the changes in her body are perfectly normal — the audience knows better. Similarly, the werewolf’s “full moon” appearance and lunar cycle are metaphorically tied to the female monthly cycle. Like Carrie, it portrays the combination of misanthropy and female puberty as a terrifying and monstrous experience.
In another clever plot development that goes against type, Brigitte finds an unlikely ally in her struggle: a local drug dealer who briefly saw the beast on the night it attacked Ginger. He has a knack for chemistry — it defines his work, after all — and his assistance is solicited to try to synthesize a cure for Ginger using herbs from werewolf lore. Fresh writing like this, paired with the tale’s strong feminine identity, help endow the film with a unique voice.
THE PACKAGE
Ginger Snaps comes to Blu-ray in a feature-packed Combo Pack edition from Scream Factory which fans will devour. The package includes a reversible cover with new and old artwork. My copy also included a slipcase with the new art. A DVD is also included, which rather amazingly seems to include all the same bonus material as the Blu-ray.
Special Features
This is an exceptionally strong release with a deluge of content, including some very compelling new featurettes created specifically for this release.
Ginger Snaps: Blood, Teeth and Fur (66:34)
New to this edition. This mega-extra features over an hour’s worth of behind-the-scenes discussion, told across interviews with many of the film’s creative personnel including director John Fawcett and writer Karen Walton, among others.
Growing Pains: Puberty in Horror Films (27:09)
New to this edition. A totally engaging roundtable discussion amongst a group of very knowledgeable and articulate female filmmakers and journalists. Kristi Jett, Axelle Carolyn, Heidi Honeycutt, and Rebekah Mckendry talk about puberty and sexuality in horror films, with special attention to gender issues.
Audio commentaries with director John Fawcett and writer Karen Walton
Deleted Scenes with optional commentary from director John Fawcett and writer Karen Walton (25:07)
Featurette (4:51)
A short EPK-type look at the film. This and the remaining features are presented in 4:3 SD; I assume they’re probably ported over from earlier DVD editions.
Cast Auditions and Rehearsals (17:45)
For enthusiasts only. Some fans might dig seeing the strong performances that landed the lead actresses their roles but I quickly skipped it.
The Creation of the Beast (4:59)
A quick five-minute look at the practical creature effects at various stages of production, culminating with test footage of the suit in action.
Being John Fawcett (1:57)
A bit of BTS tomfoolery between Fawcett and his starlets. Adorable and forgettable in equal measure.
Theatrical Trailers (3:45)
TV Spots (1:01)
I was a bit put off by the film’s mean-spirited first act, but it had won me over by the time the credits rolled thanks to a rather brilliant setup and strong female-driven storytelling. With over 90 minutes of brand new extras and a gorgeous, jam-packed presentation, this new edition a very obvious purchase for fans of the film and a solid recommendation for horror-heads who haven’t seen it.
A/V Out.