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Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle

Bridget (Emily Perkins) and Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) are back in Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning, a 19th century prequel to the first two successful entries in the Ginger Snaps film series. The fi... read more read more...lm finds the doomed sisters wandering the wilderness when they stumble across a broken down outpost whose supplies have been cut off for nearly two months. Sadly, while they've been waiting, they've also been dying -- not of starvation, but from werewolf attacks. While Bridget recovers from an unfortunate encounter with a bear trap, the two lone women in the camp are faced with growing hostility stemmed from the fire and brimstone preacher (Hugh Dillon from the Canadian punk rock band the Headstones) and a dangerous secret that lands Ginger back in werewolf land once again. With tensions rising as the bloodthirsty creatures try to break down the fort walls, how will the group react when one of its own starts becoming the one thing that they want to keep out? ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Flixster Users

57% liked it

22,284 ratings

R, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Grant Harvey

Release Date: November 1, 2004

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DVD Release Date: September 7, 2004

Stats: 876 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (876)

  • Deano78
    November 8, 2011
    Deano78
    The 3rd installment of the series but a prequel with a period setting. Set in 19th century Canada it shows the origins of the curse. A nice idea and good that the same 2 actresses are used in all films. It reminded me a bit of the 4th Tremors film that also acted as a prequel. Ho... read morewever the first film is much better with an edgy modern day setting. Ok as werewolf films go, the costumes for them are pretty cool, but overall the film was fairly average.
  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    Odd but brave. I liked it but not as much as the other two.
  • rezpatriot
    September 19, 2009
    rezpatriot
    The story telling in this, the narrating, the directing, and the special effects really sucked bad. Apart from that, I thought they used nice locations, had good props and a nice expensive camera and marketing. The acting sucked and so did the characters. If you compare this film... read more to Interview with the Vampire or films on the same genre, even Teen Werewolf was better. But I think could this be something to do with the lead characters and central storyline centered on female characters. I would hate to say but I can't remember a film that had a female character (especially sisters) who were the hook. (well ones that weren't aimed at a male audience) This is not the downfall. Its just badly scripted, written and the special effects sucked (compare them to the Howling, Teen Werewolf movies made almost 20 years ago) I think "they" cast the wrong people for the parts also. I would love to see better made movies with leading women. Who are "they"? God only knows cus I don't.
  • matertenebraum
    September 21, 2008
    matertenebraum
    Well, here we are, the last (or first) offering in the Ginger Snaps saga. A well made tale of the macabre that certainly doesn't skip on gore or blood. Two sisters Ginger & Bridgette Fitzgerald are wondering lost in the wild lands of Canada (they were supposed to be with their pa... read morerents but they drowned in an accident or something), when they stumble upon a small Indian camp that has been wiped out by werewolves. After some cryptic advice from an old Indian woman (who gives them both distinctive necklaces' with birds skulls on them). The girls end up with an Indian Hunter who takes them to yonder fort and things get going.

    Characters include the overly-done Religious Priest, the overly-done Macho Soldier, the overly-kindly Commanding Officer etc. Into the midst of those characters are the sisters trying to survive in a place where danger lurks at every turn (from inside and out).

    Unfortunately Ginger is bitten by something not quite human and the race is on to brake a spell that'll save Ginger - as compared to dooming her to a furry existence.

    The acting honors yet again go to Ms. Isabelle and Ms. Perkins who effortlessly play off each other with a touching and believable chemistry that makes the film(s) work so well. Some of the other actors are also very good (I can't remember their names, sorry!). The FX are fantastic as well, with a slew of lycanthrope nightmares wondering around and snacking off unlucky individuals.

    Yes, it does have aspects of Night of the Living Dead, Dog Soldiers and Ravenous, but it's all fun in the end and with this film you might just howl at the end!

    Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning: 4/5

    The last camera shot in the film is stunning!
  • arashxak
    August 26, 2008
    arashxak
    Not a good prequel, Well I haven't seen the first one yet & the second installment was so so with a few good things but this was just entertaining & watchable and nothing more, I'm looking forward to see the originial one
  • Redlats
    September 25, 2007
    Redlats
    I hear there are more Ginger Snap movies. By itself, this one is OK I guess. What one would expect for werewolf beginnings.
  • newvogueravyn
    July 7, 2007
    newvogueravyn
    It works reasonably well as a period horror movie, and although better than Unleashed is ultimately flat compared to the original. Still, it gets some points for the two rather attractive Native American men, and in general the film looks beautiful.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    March 22, 2006
    MidnightMadwoman
    It takes a lot to make Canadian history interesting, but use it as the backdrop for a werewolf movie, and you've got it. As vicious and clever as the originals, the only question is why Ginger and Bridget are back in time.
  • fb100002023516744
    October 4, 2011
    fb100002023516744
    With very few scares and gore, this flick fails to be a successful prequel for a horror hit. But it was interesting at times.
  • danieljparsons
    April 29, 2007
    danieljparsons
    A sort-of prequel to Ginger Snaps, set in 19th Century Canada but using the same characters (and actresses) as the original film and its sequel (Ginger Snaps Unleashed), it's surprising this works at all.

    Once again, we have a film with a new director, and, appro

    ... read morepriately, a completely new direction. Where the first film was a blackly funny but poignant horror that used metaphor to perfection, and its sequel was more an out-and-out horror in two acts with a satisfactorily OTT ending, this third film takes a gothic approach and largely sets the film in one location (a trader's fort).

    The period setting mostly works, and it's a testament to the writers that they don't just use it as an excuse to tell the same story over again but with frilly costumes. The problem lies in two things: firstly, the attempts at humour (which seem to be abandoned after the first act) don't work in the setting - they stick out and take you out of the story too much. Secondly, the use of Native American folklore (magic, destiny, visions) reeks a little of cliché (something you could not accuse the first film of being) and gets tiresome after a while. If everything is predetermined and Ginger and Brigette's fate is destiny, then what's the point in the movie?

    Thankfully, after the first hour, things suddenly kick into gear; Brigette comes into her own after being sidelined too much (giving Emily Perkins an opportunity to shine again), the direction becomes more assured and inventive, and the showdown begins. What's even more surprising is the nicely low-key ending, which couldn't be more perfect.

    As a standalone, this is the least successful of the three films, but viewed as part of a sequence it certainly has a lot to recommend it.

View All Ginger Snaps Back - The Beginning Reviews

Critic Reviews

Walter Chaw
December 14, 2004
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

In Canadian cinema, sex is either perfunctory, ugly, forced, or involves a dead person. Full Review

December 6, 2005
Film Threat

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Christopher Null
June 5, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

November 23, 2004
Film Threat

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Felix Vasquez Jr.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

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