Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (R, 2004)

GINGER SNAPS 2: UNLEASHED follows the story of Brigitte, who, after killing her werewolf sister Ginger, starts becoming a wolf herself. She doses herself with the antidote she discovered in the first movie, but soon ends up in a drug rehab center that doubles as a facility for chronic patients, and apparently, a home for young children. The granddaughter of a burn victim lives in this lovely environment, and she and Brigitte contrive to escape together.

The original Ginger Snaps was not high art, but it had a humor and edge that made it somewhat watchable for older teens. This sequel has a smattering of clever lines, but not enough to overcome the gore and general unpleasantness. There is all kinds of horrific violence and disgusting transformations, but the snappy lines and subtext of the original film are utterly absent here.

Emily Perkins is too dour and unpleasant to watch for this long, and although Katherine Isabelle makes a few brief appearances as Ginger, it isn't enough to make the movie fun or interesting. The twist at the end might qualify as creepy fun, but it's an awfully long slog to get to it. There are many, many better ways to spend 90 minutes of your life than watching this nonsense.

Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Brett Sullivan
Cast: Brendan Fletcher, Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle
Genre: Horror
Run time: 153 minutes
Theatrical release: April 4, 2004
DVD release: April 4, 2004
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong violence, sexual content, some language and drug use