GINGER SNAPS TRILOGY (DVD Review) - 6/9/06

Had heard of this werewolf movie "Ginger Snaps" a while back and had not got around to seeing it before they had already released a sequel to it "Ginger Snaps Unleashed" and then topped it off as a trilogy with a prequel "Ginger Snaps Back". Don't know if this is a play on words with the use of the word "back" as this prequel is a sort of 18th century Buffy setting and the other two films are present day. Chronology wise is doesn't make sense unless presumably the character's have been re-incarnated into the present day setting which is what I'll go for! This Region 2 Boxset has all 3 films with a nice selection of Special Features and an ace hologram cover to the boxset casing.
The first film in the series "Ginger Snaps Back - The Beginning" is actually a prequel made in 2005 after the other two film's in the series. You can tell from the outset that two girls alone in a snowy forest; when their horse runs away, are obviously going to find trouble - Pretty soon trouble comes knocking at their door. For a low-budget film it has a certain flair for atmosphere and some of the sequences seen are quite nasty. The repressed Priest is one to look out for as well in what can only be termed as Buffy for the 1800's or certainly elements of at any rate! SPECIAL FEATURES: Deleted Scenes, Grant Harvey's Video Diary - Plus featurettes: "Wolfboy", "Blood, Guts & Fire", Production/Costume Design. Bloopers Reel and Director's Video Diary. Runtime: 91 Mins Approx. 2005.
The second film in the series "Ginger Snaps" (actually the original made in 2001) has been often hailed as a metaphor for female puberty but also covers teenage angst and being an outsider from the norm. Starting off like a female version of "Harold & Maude" it soon descends into horror territory but at least the leads really do like like teenagers instead of 26 year olds playing kids. Soon we're creeping round darkened basements and the blood's flying. SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailer, Screen Tests, "Creation Of The Beast" Featurette and Making Of. Production & Cast Notes. This Version is Widescreen. Runtime: 104 Mins Approx. 2001.
In the final film in the trilogy "Ginger Snaps Unleashed" from 2004 we get some very nasty moments that made me squirm in a couple of instances which are quite unpleasant. The degenerate hospital orderly, the female masturbation, the mentally unbalanced child - Are all fairly sick. This film turns the first two on it's head and really screws you over. SPECIAL FEATURES: Deleted Scenes, Auditions with Behind The Scenes Featurettes and Storyboards. Runtime: 91 Mins Approx. 2004. ALL THREE DISCS: Audio: 5.1. Dolby Digital. Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Full Height Anamorphic. PAL Colour. Language: English. Region 2 - Rating 18. Warner Brothers, Lionsgate Films, Optimum Releasing, Mosaic Entertainment. ISBN # 7321900989190>