05/10/06 Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning

Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004), directed by Grant Harvey

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD (borrowed from Jason) @ Camp Scoutshire Woods (Citronelle, AL)

Coming in third in this splendidly reprobate series about teenage werewolf loving sisters, this film serves as the prequel origins of the siblings' plight. If you are not familiar with the trilogy of "Ginger Snaps" films, you ought to be, as they are wickedly campy horror flicks. The two actresses play well into creepy roles of bloodlust and weird sisterly bonds of loyalty. It's like a lycanthropic Playboy love letter. This story delves back into the 19th century Canadian wilderness (which is not much unlike the 21st century Canadian wilderness), where the two girls are warned of evil from a trippy Native-American clairvoyant, and forced to hole up in an all-male trading fort post for refuge. Once in the fort, it is soon learned of the scary evils of werewolves that roam the lands around the camp, and all the men's relgious fear of the beasts. Of course, one sister (Ginger) goes and gets bit...and some enigmatic Indian warrior tries to save her...and younger sister Brigette tries to remain the voice of reason in this psychotic world. It's fun, and scary, and probably my favorite of the trilogy...mostly for understanding the storyline more and the period/era in which the film is set. It seems more desolate and unknown. Plus, while watching this in a cabin in the woods during a lightning/hail storm, and having to walk back to your bunk alone...makes it all the more desolate and unknown.

3 out of 5 stars