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Brigitte, sister of Ginger who became a werewolf in the original
film, carries the tainted blood of her dead close relation.
She puts herself through regular bouts of bloodletting and
injects herself with Monkshood (or Wolfsbane) a poison used
to stave off her transformation, keeping a journal of her
gradual degeneration. After a near miss with a werewolf which
is tracking her with the intentions of mating, Brigitte wakes
up in an asylum. Deprived of the drug she desperately needs,
and with the beast's violent killings getting ever closer,
she realises she has to escape. Unexpected help comes in the
form of a young girl, Ghost, who tells Brigitte she is only
there because a guardian works in the building. They vacate
the asylum through the ventilation shaft and into an abandoned
area of the facility, and then drive to a remote building
belonging to the deceased grandmother of Ghost, where they
attempt to prepare themselves for the arrival of the werewolf.
However, Brigitte's lupine characteristics are breaking through,
and her only friend Ghost appears to be mad as a Hatter...
For
anyone who hasn't already seen the very enjoyable first film,
Ginger Snaps, this
sequel may come across as a mite confusing, especially during
the early scenes. It wrongly assumes that everyone wanting
to see this will be a fan, but that's often a mistake; sequels
should strive for new audiences as well as established ones.
Aside from that complaint this is well worth watching, because
it concentrates on Brigitte rather than werewolves.
As
I stated in my review of The
Howling, directors should forget about showcasing
the effects and concentrate on telling a good story. This
is precisely what happens here; the main character and her
anxieties drag you into her situation. Someone who is considered
a worthless drug addict is in actual fact trying to save her
own life and that of others by delaying her transformation.
Emily Perkins achieves a very believable moody determination,
and without it I'm certain this movie wouldn't be half as
good.
The
werewolf effects are acceptable, but by no means outstanding,
which is why they are intelligently kept to occasional glimpses
for most of the running time. In early scenes when she's alone,
Brigitte is visited in visions by her dead sister Ginger.
I can understand that this is the obvious way of creating
dialogue and progressing the story when there is only one
person present, but this was done first and best in An
American Werewolf In London, and I would have
preferred it to not happen here.
The
extras are nothing special here, I'm afraid. A trailer, deleted
scenes which are short and dull, actor auditions which are
like watching paint dry, and storyboards/film comparisons
(probably the only worthwhile special feature). I expected
The Beast is Built to be a documentary, but it's only
a few quick images of the werewolf sculpture and actor/werewolf
visual effects. The whole thing lasts barely a minute which,
when accompanying a fairly good film, must be embarrassing
for all parties concerned.
In
all, a simple but effective film, but not quite to the same
standard as its predecessor, and without much of the dark
humour of Ginger Snaps. But you shouldn't let that
put you off. Wait until next full moon... and then snap it
up!
Ty
Power
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