I need to begin this film review by writing that I LOVE THIS MOVIE…A LOT!  There will be some geeking out- prepare yourselves.  The ideal horror film takes an issue or life lesson and hides the message in something scary. The horror genre is not alone; good science fiction does this, but it’s rare.  “Ginger Snaps” takes the milestone of 50% of the World’s population – the menarche and uses lycanthropy as a metaphor for it.  Yes, you read that right-  Werewolfism as a metaphor for the first menstrual cycle.  I have two very young daughters and in an odd way, I feel a little more prepared.  This film’s got it all: werewolves, a coming of age story, and Mimi Rogers.  Yes, Mimi Rogers – a Voluptuous Artsy Smarty Pants (VASP) and the uber crush of my youth – is in Ginger Snaps.

We open in suburban Canada- every house looks the same.  A mom is cleaning up yard waste and her son is playing in the sandbox with…. dog gore.  The mom sees her son covered in their dog and their dog is opened all up.  She freaks in the neighborhood and no one cares.

The story moves onto Brigitte and Ginger.  Brigitte is the introspective sister and Ginger is the more gutsy one.  They both are very Alternative and Gothish.  In high school, these would be the girls whom I would’ve crushed on very awkwardly and they would’ve thought I was boring because I was into sports and pretty stammering.  The sisters are obsessed with death.  They stage elaborate death scenes of each other impaled, hanged, poisoned, overdosed, and suffocated (list not exclusive). They present this avant garde masterpiece to their teacher who thinks they’re whacko.  Sidenote: I truly love the 1990s vibe the high school has!!!

The girls are trying to play Field Hockey.  Brigette is being bullied by a Mean Girl.  Then, Brigette trips into a dog and what I mean by into I mean there is ANOTHER mauled dog and Brigette is sitting in him. YEECH!

They get home and their mom- Mimi Rogers- is trying to connect with them.  She recognizes the premenstrual symptoms that Ginger is having and tries to bond with her. It fails- Poor Beautiful Mimi Rogers.  The girls sneak out of the house to kidnap the Mean Girl’s dog.  While canine hunting, Ginger gets her period as she calls it The Curse and the Werewolf attacks her.  Also, they call the lycanthropy a curse throughout the film.  Ginger is mauled by the werewolf and is saved by Brigette, but the werewolf gives chase and is run over by a Drug Dealer’s van.  Yep, forget silver to kill Werewolves; it’s all about an old school car.  A Prius, however, would not likely save you because they suck and are terrible.

The girls get home and Ginger’s wounds are already healing.  The movie continues with references to lunar cycles in relation to Ginger’s lunar and menstrual cycle.   Ginger rapidly leaves Brigette behind as she begins to chase a bad boy and the occasional neighbor dog for a snack.  Ginger also begins to dress more provocatively.  Then, Ginger porks her boyfriend and she grows a tail.  See what premarital sex will get you?! A Tail!

Brigette attracts the Mean Girl’s ex the Drug Dealer who ran over the werewolf.  He comes up with some nifty werewolf-be-gone remedies: One being for Ginger to get a belly piercing- Ok, whatever works.  Ginger gets more aggressive at school and beats the piss out of anyone who messes with Brigette.  We see Ginger’s Boyfriend and he looks roughed because Ginger gave him her werewolf disease by knockin’ boots with him.  The Drug Dealer guy figures out that mainlining wolf’s bane will cure Ginger.

The Mean Girl shows up at Brigette’s and Ginger’s home and hilariously slips and dies. Sorry, it was kind of funny.  The girls bury her in the cellar.  Later, Mimi Rogers finds the body of the Mean Girl and resolves to take the girls far away.  Ginger kills a few more people and becomes more wolf-like and decides it’s time to party.

She tries to seduce Drug Dealer guy, but is thwarted by Brigette.  Mimi loses track of her girls and is not seen again.  Brigette distracts Ginger by mixing their blood with the hope that this will distract Ginger long enough to inject them both, curing them all.  Does it work? Not so much. Ginger goes full-on werewolf, Brigette is becoming a werewolf, and …… You’ll just have to watch.  I’m not spoiling the 3rd act of the best Metaphorical Horror Movie Ever! NO WAY!  Go buy this film!!!  It’s really awesome!  If you buy Ginger Snaps and you don’t like it, you get to keep it.  This film is just purely great! I know many of you like my snark alec a lot, but this movie just wonderful!