Ginger Snaps Is Your Next Halloween Watch

Graphic by Molly Van Gorp.

As Halloween slowly creeps up on us, horror films have reclaimed their spot as the most seasonally appropriate (yes, even more appropriate than “Gilmore Girls”) way to ignore your assignments and second round of midterms. Out of the multitude of bone chilling, heart stopping and vomit inducing options, I find myself drawn to horror films with well written female leads. After all, there’s nothing like a mad woman, and there’s nothing like cheering her on as she inevitably wrecks the lives of every other character. For the 2022 season, my recommendation is a slightly lesser known Canadian cult classic: the fabulously heart-wrenching “Ginger Snaps.” 

Written by Karen Walton and directed by John Fawcett, “Ginger Snaps” sits at the intersection of many cultural movements and ideas, pioneering some and completely reinventing others. It’s commentary on sisterhood, as well as female youth and adolescence, are part of the reason I keep going back to it time and time again. If you giggled while watching “Jennifer’s Body,” “Ginger Snaps” is sure to bring you to tears as well, with iconic exchanges between Ginger and Brigitte such as: “Think she's pretty?” and “If I wasn't here, would you eat her?”.

The story itself centers on the lives of two goth teenage sisters, Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald, and their life struggles in mundane suburbia. When Ginger gets her first period, she is immediately bitten by a werewolf and begins her transition into a lycantrophic sex monster, bent on destruction and blood. It’s up to her younger sister, Brigitte, to find a cure, or else Ginger will be condemned to monster-hood forever. 

In an effort not to spoil the movie (although it has been out since 2000), I won’t divulge the success of Brigitte’s mission. However, the relationship of these sisters is important in understanding their developments and the story being told. Brigitte and Ginger start off as each other’s only sources of comfort, content in avoiding womanhood, sexuality and growth forever. This can be seen in the aesthetic choices of both girls prior to Ginger’s bite.

Layering, thick wool sweaters, long maxi skirts; grays, blacks, dark blues; the girls are dressed like conservative, alternative grandmothers. Even during their gym class, Ginger and Brigitte layer jackets and sweaters over their already full coverage uniform. Their similarity in dress not only shows that they are both still pre-pubescent and unready to start exploring their sexuality, but also that they are basically the same person. Bound by a blood oath made when they were eight, the sisters are virtually indistinguishable pre-period and werewolf bite. 

Honestly, it’s interesting that Ginger gets both her first period and is bitten by a werewolf within the short span of  five minutes. The equation of womanhood with monster hood is apparent here, however, I would argue that this is what makes Ginger Snaps so revolutionary. 

Acknowledging how negatively women are perceived, both in media and society at large, is something that Ginger Snaps subtly critiques in its entirety. Similarly, female werewolves are not as saturated in the media as female vampires, witches or other supernatural beings. This is because the typical werewolf traits—extreme body hair, unnatural strength, bloodlust that depends on ripping your prey to shreds—are not usually associated with femininity. Yet, Ginger’s transition into womanhood is just as bloody, sexually charged and brutal. 

Ginger’s blossoming sexuality can most clearly be seen through her wardrobe changes. Long gone is twinning with her younger sister as Ginger breaks into her confident school hottie strut. She’s wearing slightly more color now (a lighter shade of blue!), and her clothes are much more form fitting and flattering. The material is thinner and glossier, more feminine than the dark clothes she was wearing before. 

Ginger Snaps subverts the transformation trope on its head. Although she is now more confident in herself and her sexuality, she is still heavily sexualized in an extremely creepy way by her male classmates. The film intends to show how uncomfortable it is to attempt self-expression when the leering eyes of your classmates follow your every move. 

However, this change in Ginger is not just sexual, it is undeniably monstrous. She grows a tail, fur and an insatiable lust for blood. One of the most iconic, and perhaps well said lines comes from the werewolf herself before the manslaughter of the film truly begins—“I get this ache. ... And I, I thought it was for sex, but it's to tear everything to fucking pieces.” 

Ginger’s story is able to encompass the sexuality, rage, isolation and horror of girlhood and growing up. Her story is prophetic even for Brigitte, who gets exposed to werewolf blood towards the end of the film. Stained by the Scarlet letter, neither sister can truly escape the fate they’ve both been trying desperately to avoid. This film is terrifying. 

If you’re going to watch any new film this season, I’d strongly recommend Ginger Snaps. Although I did glaze over it, Ginger does commit a lot of brutal manslaughter, tearing apart animals, classmates and counselors. It’s delightfully gory and a real classic. But, not something you’d want to watch with your younger sister. 

Images courtesy of Cultsploitation.