10 Canadian Horror Movies You Must See Before You Die

When The Wolfman came out in 1941, it inspired a couple of werewolf films from the female perspective, including Cry of the Werewolf in 1944 and She Wolf of London in 1946, but the genre remained largely a male-dominated trope until this coming of age film, set in Ontario, came along in 2000.

Ginger Snaps tells the story of gothic outcast sisters Ginger and Bridgette, who have a fascination with death. After Ginger is attacked by a werewolf, the film proceeds to draw parallels between the lycanthropy transformation and female puberty.

The film not only focusses on the relationship between the two sisters, but on female empowerment in general, with Bridgette protecting Ginger, and also standing up to Jason after he attacks her following being infected by Ginger. She reverses the damsel in distress trope when she attempts to save Sam from Ginger’s brutality.

Becoming a cult classic over the years, Ginger Snaps inspired other horrors such as Jennifer’s Body, and draws parallels to It Follows, with the passing on of a curse via sex, like an STD. Interestingly, the wolfsbane remedy is given a scientific reasoning for its efficacy, in that it creates white blood cells, rather than just being seen as a magic flower, as so many other films have portrayed it. The film went on to have a sequel and a prequel, but neither have the same quality or innovation as the original.