Ginger Snaps II

Just finished watching Ginger Snaps II. Very seldomly do sequels, especially sequels in horror movies, live up to the original. Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street just got stranger and stranger as they went along, eventually concluding with the two antagonists beating each other up in a somewhat similar vein to the question "Who'd win in a fight? Superman, or the Incredible Hulk?"

Ginger Snaps II, however, is a wonderful followup to the original. I think it really captures some of the central themes of the original movie, as well as the dark yet almost Tim Burtonesque suburban setting (ok, a mental hospital isn't really suburban, but...it had that Burtonesque feel that the original did), but also makes itself into its own movie. The opening scene is one of the most disturbing I've ever seen...and it's just of a girl shaving her legs (and back...and hands...and chest...all without showing any actual nudity). The cinematography was fantastic, and the costumes were perfect. I still hate the Beast, who's costume gets a reprisal in the sequel, as its just a second-rate knockoff of the werewolf done in An American Werewolf in London. The prosthetics leading up to it were, though, simply astounding and very beleivable, once again like the original.

There were some fantastic plot twists, though some you pick up on right away, or at least expect, and part of the fun becomes seeing just HOW they occur. Some of the most harmless characters aren't, and some of the sleeziest get a few redeeming moments.

All in all, it's quite a good movie. Now...I just have to wait for the third to get on the 7-day Rental rack at Rogers so I can rent it cheap...