Ginger Snaps (2000) |
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General | Extras | ||
Category | Horror |
Main Menu Audio Theatrical Trailer |
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Rating | |||
Year Of Production | 2000 | ||
Running Time | 103:40 | ||
RSDL / Flipper | No/No | Cast & Crew | |
Start Up | Menu | ||
Region Coding | 4 | Directed By | John Fawcett |
Studio
Distributor |
Copper Heart Ent Magna Home Entertainment |
Starring |
Emily Perkins Katherine Isabelle Kris Lemche Mimi Rogers |
Case | Click | ||
RPI | $29.95 | Music | Michael Shields |
Video | Audio | ||
Pan & Scan/Full Frame | None | English Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s) | |
Widescreen Aspect Ratio | 1.78:1 | ||
16x9 Enhancement |
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Video Format | 576i (PAL) | ||
Original Aspect Ratio | 1.78:1 | Miscellaneous | |
Jacket Pictures | No | ||
Subtitles | None | Smoking | Yes, almost constant |
Annoying Product Placement | No | ||
Action In or After Credits | No |
Ginger Snaps tells the tale of Ginger (Katherine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins) Fitzgerald , two socially inept sisters whose only comfort in life is each other, and taking morbid photographs of themselves in staged suicide scenes. Ginger is protective of her younger sister and their strong bond is obvious from the start of the movie. The family is very dysfunctional, well-portrayed by Mimi Rogers as Pamela, the daughters' bumbling and ineffectual mother.
The story begins in the sleepy town of Bailey Downs where it becomes apparent that there have been a number of gruesome animal killings by an unknown beast, very gruesome killings. Life continues and after a bad day at school Ginger and Brigitte decide to get their own back on the school b****. That night, the girls sneak out to do their dirty work, but come up against the "Bailey Downs Beast" in a somewhat hair-raising encounter in a children's playground followed by a run through the local forest.
Ginger is attacked by the beast, which turns out to be a werewolf (or lycanthrope for the more high-brow amongst us), and infected. We then follow Ginger's transformation and the changes that become obvious in her personality and physique. Katharine Isabelle growing a tail is one of the more disturbing images that will remain with me from this movie.
Brigitte and Sam (Kris Lemche), the local school genius and dope seller (go figure), are left to find the cure to lycanthropy as Ginger becomes increasingly dangerous and promiscuous. Yes, you did read promiscuous, yet another disturbing scene that will stay with me for some time. I will leave the plot summary here as there are a number of surprising twists that I would hate to ruin for first-time viewers.
The transfer is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 (measured) and is 16x9 enhanced (not 1.77:8 as shown on the packaging...).
The transfer is sharp with only a few softer scenes. Shadow detail is uniformly good - fortunate as the majority of the film is shot in low lighting. There is very light grain throughout the transfer, but this will only be obvious to the picky.
Colour saturation is excellent throughout. A number of outdoor scenes are filmed through a filter giving the obligatory ominous feel. Indoor scenes have excellent levels of colour, with blood coming through rich and red throughout the transfer.
There was no obvious aliasing in this transfer. In fact, I did not notice any MPEG artefacts whatsoever.
There are no subtitles, so I didn't sample them.
Sharpness | |
Shadow Detail | |
Colour | |
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Overall |
There was one English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, encoded at 384kbps.
The dialogue almost sounded like it had been recorded through a telephone, it really was that bad at times. Admittedly, the problem improved as the movie progressed, although this may have something to do with my ears being desensitised to this issue eventually.
Audio sync was fine throughout.
Accompanying the dialogue problems was the annoying whine. This was predominantly noted through the centre speaker, but at one point (39:30) the rear left speaker participated. This was obviously a mastering problem that tainted the entire transfer.
Michael Shields has done a good job as composer. The music supports on-screen action transparently, without drawing unnecessary attention to itself.
The surrounds were utilised effectively during dramatic scenes, providing a lot of rear effects and creepy noises. Unfortunately the soundfield tended to collapse to the front during dialogue-driven sequences, providing limited ambient effects.
The subwoofer did not play a large role in this movie, but when called upon it was exceptional. 31:35 is a great example of bass presence and action sequences had plenty of support with the sub reflecting on-screen happenings.
Dialogue | |
Audio Sync | |
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Subwoofer | |
Overall |
NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
The video quality is excellent.
The audio quality is flawed.
The extras are almost non-existent
Video | |
Audio | |
Extras | |
Plot | |
Overall |
Review Equipment | |
DVD | Pioneer DV-535, using S-Video output |
Display | RCA 80cm. Calibrated with Video Essentials. This display device is 16x9 capable. |
Audio Decoder | Built in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials. |
Amplification | Onkyo TX-DS787, THX Select |
Speakers | All matching Vifa Drivers: centre 2x6.5" + 1" tweeter (d'appolito); fronts and rears 6.5" + 1" tweeter; centre rear 5" + 1" tweeter; sub 10" (150WRMS) |