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Brigitte, sister of Ginger who became a werewolf in the original
film, carries the tainted blood of her dead close relation.
She puts herself through regular bouts of bloodletting and
injects herself with Monkshood (or Wolfsbane) a poison used
to stave off her transformation, keeping a journal of her
gradual degeneration. After a near miss with a werewolf which
is tracking her with the intentions of mating, Brigitte wakes
up in an asylum. Deprived of the drug she desperately needs,
and with the beast's violent killings getting ever closer,
she realises she has to escape...
Unexpected help comes in the form of a young girl, Ghost,
who tells Brigitte she is only there because a guardian works
in the building. They vacate the asylum through the ventilation
shaft and into an abandoned area of the facility, and then
drive to a remote building belonging to the deceased grandmother
of Ghost, where they attempt to prepare themselves for the
arrival of the werewolf. However, Brigitte's lupine characteristics
are breaking through, and her only friend Ghost appears to
be as mad as a Hatter.
For
anyone who hasn't already seen the very enjoyable first film,
Ginger Snaps, this sequel may come across as a mite
confusing, especially during the early scenes.
It wrongly assumes that everyone wanting to see this will
be a fan, but that's often a mistake; sequels should strive
for new audiences as well as established ones.
Aside
from that complaint this is well worth watching, because it
concentrates on Brigitte rather than werewolves. As I stated
in my review of The
Howling,
directors should forget about showcasing the effects and concentrate
on telling a good story. This is precisely what happens here;
the main character and her anxieties drag you into her situation.
Someone who is considered a worthless drug addict is in actual
fact trying to save her own life and that of others by delaying
her transformation. Emily Perkins achieves a very believable
moody determination, and without it I'm certain this movie
wouldn't be half as good.
The
werewolf effects are acceptable, but by no means outstanding,
which is why they are intelligently kept to occasional glimpses
for most of the running time. In early scenes when she's alone,
Brigitte is visited in visions by her dead sister Ginger.
I can understand that this is the obvious way of creating
dialogue and progressing the story when there is only one
person present, but this was done first and best in An
American Werewolf In London, and I would have preferred
it to not happen here.
In
all, a simple but effective film, but not quite to the same
standard as its predecessor, and without much of the dark
humour of Ginger Snaps. But you shouldn't let that
put you off. Wait until next full moon... and then snap it
up!
Ty
Power
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