Released in 2000, Ginger Snaps garnered a cult following for its snapshot of teen life in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and for its interesting use of lycanthropy as a puberty metaphor. It was raw, bloody, and different to what had gone before, and with references to teen suicides and ‘death-obsessed’ characters, it’s also a film that would not be made now. While some of those themes are rightly dated, Ginger Snaps remains a strong, if flawed, entry in the genre.
With sequel Ginger Snaps: Unleashed and prequel Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning, Second Sight have gathered a haul of interviews and featurettes for a new, rather fancy boxset release of the trilogy. And while all the extras offer an intriguing insight into the production and impact of the films – a panel discussion on puberty in film being an interesting inclusion – upon rewatch the films themselves do vary in quality somewhat.
Ginger Snaps itself remains an impactful piece, angry and emotional, full of moments relatable to anyone who remembers the bleaker side of teenage life. The other two films are, for varying reasons, less so. The sequel continues from directly where its predecessor ended and feels very much like extended scenes that were rightly left on the cutting room floor. With a curious tonal shift, it’s difficult to root for any of the characters and as such is a rather forgettable follow-up. And the prequel is just dull, woefully attempting to blend Native American mysticism into the lore.
Undoubtedly another lovely release from Second Sight, but perhaps one for the more hardcore fans of the series.
THE GINGER SNAPS TRILOGY is out now on Blu-ray
