Spoilers had a pact.

Okey this one has all the markings of a classic for its era. Unavoidably you’ll get flashes of The Craft and Heathers, but I’m going to avoid drawing any comparisons here. It deals with a lot of teenage subjects in a very smart and subtle way. It doesn’t demean its young stars and therefore it will not demean its audience. It does hold up very well. The practical special effects are showing their age in some scenes, but on others they’re still pretty much on point.

(Credit: Lions Gate Films)

Ginger Snaps (2000) was directed by John Fawcett with a screenplay by Karen Walton. It stars two high school sisters, Brigitte (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katharine Isabelle), who have a fascination with death to the dismay of her mother, Pamela (Mimi Rogers). The two sisters love to make very realistic death scenes and film them. I love that when the movie starts, the threat is already established. There’s a wild beast loose in the neighbourhood killing all the dogs.

You should watch this one, and not because of the other films it draws inspiration from but because it’s its own thing. It’s a much more intimate film and it keeps its focus pretty tight. The production budget is used very conservatively but the practical special effects are gorgeous. Yes, you’re going to be able notice some have aged, but there are some shots that still work very well. Modern audiences might not be impressed, but for classic horror fans, this is very tastefully done.

However, although the horror and gore are definitely the main theme, what really sells the film is the performance and dynamic between the two leads. Emily Perkins’ Brigitte and Katharine Isabelle’s Ginger crystallize a skewed but honest view of sisterhood with a death pact. Sex and womanhood are addressed both directly and using horror themes. Although she plays a secondary role, Mimi Rogers still shines as their mother Pamela. Some of the background actors do show a little inexperience, but the focus is really on the sisters.

Highly recommended for genre horror fans but it also has a coming-of-age tale of sisterhood and teenage social themes. Unfortunately, modern audiences looking for jump scare horror might shy away because of its age. Classic horror fans will love the practical special effects. Definitely worth a watch.

That will do for now.