Ginger Snaps Trilogy Blu-Ray Review

Too much blood. And I can see your gonch!

Just one of the memorable lines from Ginger Snaps, and now it’s getting the Second Sight Collectors Edition treatment so you can hear them over and over.

Ginger Snaps was originally released in the year 2000, which is disgusting to think is 23 years ago, and was quickly lauded as a landmark in feminist horror. It offered a fresh take on the Werewolf sub-genre, and to be honest probably hasn’t been bettered.

It combines elements of coming of age drama, Mean Girls like high school hijinks and body horror that Cronenberg would be proud of all underlined with a perfect level of dark humour.

The film is set in the suburban Canadian town of Bailey Downs, where a pair of outcast teens; sisters Brigitte (Emily Perkins, IT, Supernatural) and Ginger (Katharine Isabelle, Freddy v Jason) Fitzgerald like to create and take fake yet disturbing suicide photographs to offer up as coursework in school.

Suicide is like… the ultimate fuck you.

There’s a slew of pets turning up dead in the local area and their next door neighbours dog is brutally slain, much to the nonchalance of all who witness the owners grief.

Then on the night of Ginger’s first period, she is savagely attacked by a creature in a scene akin to An American Werewolf, they manage to escape and the beast is hit by a van, no silver bullets needed here.

Brigitte hunts for a cure to save her sister from her canine conundrum and the sisters’ relationship is tested as Ginger’s transformation into a werewolf progresses and plays havoc with everyone’s lives.

The film works so well thanks to the performances from Katherine Isabelle and Emily Perkins, they capture the essence of loving protective sisters while Ginger’s slow transformation into a sensual, primal creature is pitch perfect.

Underneath this is a coming-of-age story with themes of sisterhood, puberty, and the fear of change. The lycanthropy is used as a metaphor for the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, making it a unique horror experience that still stands up today.

It’s beautifully shot (the final image in the film is stunning) and the make up effects are wonderful. The level of gore is just about right, and there’s some genuine shock moments, especially during the original attack.

The film’s a bit of a slow burner which helps build the characters and the strong performances make it a cult classic and a must-see for horror enthusiasts and those looking for a horror film with substance.

Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed is a quality sequel. It’s gripping and darkly atmospheric from the beginning and feels almost Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors like then moves into haunted house/cabin in the woods territory.

Directed by Brett Sullivan, this 2004 movie manages to capture the essence of the original while taking the story in a slightly different direction with Ginger being a Jack Goodman like conscience and then getting out of the way.

Filled with more fantastic performances, a young Tatiana Maslany, (She-Hulk: Attorney at law, Orphan Black) is spot on. It maintains the dark and moody atmosphere of the original while being completely different. This is more of a straight up werewolf movie and offers an engaging mix of horror, drama, and dark humour (and more werewolves) with a decent twisteroo.

The last in the Trilogy is Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning which was filmed back to back with Unleashed.

This time it’s a prequel, exploring the early days of the curse in an 19th century period setting. An outpost, inhabited by a small group of fur trappers and a local Indian tribe, is the focal point for the unfolding horror. Being tonally different, some may not feel this lives up to the other two entries in the series, it’s a must-see for fans and the extras on the disc are great.

Speaking of extras , they’re overflowing like the guts of Baxter across these three discs.

Ginger Snaps has some fantastic commentaries, giving you even more excuses to delve back in to the film, which are:

New audio commentary by Mary Beth McAndrews and Terry Mesnard
Audio commentary with director John Fawcett
Audio commentary with writer Karen Walton
Canadian Uncanny: Stacey Abbott on Ginger Snaps
A Blood Red Moon: a new interview with director John Fawcett
What Are You Wereing?: a new interview with producer Steve Hoban
The Art of Horror: a new interview with Storyboard Artist Vincenzo Natali
Ginger Snaps: Blood, Teeth and Fur
Growing Pains: Puberty in Horror Films
The Making of Ginger Snaps
Cast Auditions and Rehearsals
Deleted scenes with optional director and writer commentaries
Production design work
Creation of the Beast
Trailers and TV Spots

Unleashed is no slouch either and has:

Audio commentary with director Brett Sullivan
Girl, Interrupted: a new interview with director Brett Sullivan
The Bloody Lunar Cycle: a new interview with writer Megan Martin
Behind the Scenes: Beast is Built
Behind the Scenes: Locations
Behind the Scenes: Special Make-Up
Behind the Scenes: Practical Special Effects
Behind the Scenes: Stunts
Behind the Scenes: Fun On Set
Deleted scenes (with optional commentary)
Audition tapes
Storyboards

And the last film in the trilogy, where lets face it more often than not the extra features come to die and you’ll just get “TV Spots” if you’re lucky has a decent amount to enjoy:

Audio Commentary with Director Grant Harvey, Co-Writer Steve Massicotte, and Editor Ken Filewych
Snap!: A new interview with director Grant Harvey
Girls on Film: a new interview with producer Paula Devonshire
Production Design
Costume Design
Blood Guts and Fire
Wolf Boy
Fun On Set
Deleted scenes with optional commentary
Grant Harvey’s Video Diary

Of course a Second Sight Limited Edition wouldn’t leave it there, you also get

5 collectors’ art cards

Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Michael Dunbabin

112-page book with new essays by Meredith Borders, Kat Hughes, Dr Rachel Knightley, Mikel J Koven, Jolene Richardson, Zoë Rose Smith and Caelum Vatnsdal

All three films look and sound great on this Blu-Ray release, The gore is gorier and the practical effects still look as amazing as they did two decades ago.

If you’ve not seen them before you’re in for a treat. If you’ve not rewatched them for a while, then it’s nice to revisit them looking so good.

The Ginger Snaps Trilogy Limited-Edition Blu-ray Box Set, is released on 30th October 2023 just in time for Halloween and it’s Limited edition, so don’t miss out Get yours quick!