Common Sense Media Review
Very, very violent horror flick.
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Ginger Snaps
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a blend of horror and humor that offers a relatable metaphor for puberty, often highlighting the chaotic emotions that come with growing up. While it contains strong language, gory scenes, and some mature themes, many reviewers find it suitable and recommend it, especially for teenagers, citing its deeper message about the struggles of adolescence.
- relatable themes
- strong language
- good for teens
- gory content
- emotional depth
- humor elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Teenagers love horror movies, and GINGER SNAPS has plenty of scares and blood and monsters. Sisters Ginger (Katherine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins) are obsessed with death -- one of the puns on the movie's title is the series of photographs they take of each other in various forms of lifelessness. But one night Ginger crosses a new line -- she gets her period. At nearly the exact same moment, she is attacked by a werewolf, and begins to become one herself.
Is It Any Good?
Teenagers who are into horror may enjoy this, though they may not pick up on the "message" it's trying to convey. Ginger Snaps attempts to create a metaphor -- menstruation and the changes it brings to personality and sexuality are like the raging blood lust of the werewolf. There's something interesting in that parallel, but ultimately the film doesn't follow through on the idea, but becomes simply a parade of attacks, some brutal, some darkly funny. The two girls give very strong performances, particularly Perkins, and Brigitte's own transformation from mousy sidekick to werewolf hunter is impressive. It's refreshing to see a young girl take on the hero's role in this kind of film.
As a horror film it works fine. As a satiric commentary on adolescence, it doesn't succeed quite as well. It's extremely violent, and parents should use discretion in allowing their children to see it. Older teens will think it's fine, but younger kids could be terrified.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ginger and Brigitte's obsession with death, their very strong bond to each other, and how Ginger's maturation changes that. You might want to ask your teens what they think the appeal of movies like this is in the first place.
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 13, 2000
- On DVD or streaming : September 13, 2001
- Cast : Emily Perkins , Katharine Isabelle , Mimi Rogers
- Director : John Fawcett
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Copperheart Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : extremely graphic violence, strong language, sexual situations
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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