Ginger Snaps (2000)

Ginger Snaps (2000) is a dark, atmospheric teen horror that blends coming-of-age drama with visceral werewolf body horror. Set in a bleak suburban town, it follows two death-obsessed sisters—voluptuous, rebellious Ginger and her quieter, loyal younger sister Brigitte—whose tight bond is shattered when Ginger is bitten by a creature on the night of her first period and a full moon. As Ginger’s body and temperament change, the film becomes a tense race against time: Brigitte, with the help of an outsider named Sam, scrambles to find a cure before the next full moon. Watching the film, you’ll experience a slow-burning, unsettling buildup that shifts into intense, physical horror. The movie uses practical effects and gritty visuals to make Ginger’s transformation disturbingly tangible, while retaining a strong emotional core in the relationship between the sisters. The mood is gloomy and gothic, punctuated with dark humor and rebellious teenage energy—scenes of morbid play and suburban alienation give way to moments of genuine fear and sorrow. Beyond the scares, Ginger Snaps functions as an allegory for puberty and female sexuality: the werewolf transformation reads as a metaphor for the frightening, shame-laced changes of adolescence. The film is equal parts character study and genre piece, offering both social commentary and jump-inducing sequences. Expect tense pacing, memorable performances, and a tone that’s as tragic as it is frightening—an unsettling, thought-provoking horror that lingers after the credits roll.

Actors: Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Kris Lemche

Director: John Fawcett

Runtime: 108 min

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror

5.6 /10 70 /100 6.8 /10 6.5 /10