The original GINGER SNAPS is arguably the best horror film of the new millennium so far. GINGER SNAPS 2: UNLEASHED was a solid sequel that continued the tale from the first film and took it into an interesting direction. The third film in the series is a huge departure and made me wonder if the franchise was dead. However, despite being an odd choice, the third film is still engaging and entertaining.
Outsider sisters Ginger (Katharine Isabelle, FREDDY VS. JASON) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins, PROZAC NATION) return, but they aren’t modern girls anymore. The story takes the characters and places them in 19th Century Canada. Their parents have died and they become lost in the woods. After Brigitte is injured, a mysterious Indian hunter (Nathaniel Arcand, ELEKTRA) leads them to an outpost where the inhabitants are very leery of strangers. This is because on a nightly basis the fort is attacked by werewolves.
Secrets and tensions between the inhabitants create a great deal of danger for the girls, especially when Ginger is bitten by a strange mutant boy. The intrigue of the story is interesting and the film comes up with some nice twists on the werewolf lore, especially with the use of leaches. Sometimes humorous and sometimes annoying, Ginger and Brigitte retain some of their 21st Century attitude. It undermines the tension of the story at times, but in a wink-wink kind of way provides some nice laughs.
The film isn’t as scary as the first two films for the story is more of a horror-themed mystery thriller. The end is kind of a surprise, but anyone who thinks hard enough will probably see it coming. This film stands alone in the series as a re-envisioning rather than a prequel or sequel. It’ll be entertaining for those not familiar with the series or those who have seen both of the previous films. GINGER SNAPS is a solid series of horror films from our friends up North.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
