The following is one of Rabid Doll's Top 13 horror films of all times picks. We highly recommend this flick for excellent Halloween viewing. Werewolf films seem cursed by mediocrity, rarely showing the backbone for greatness. Thankfully, "Ginger Snaps" (2000) comes along with smarts and real teeth. Of the Top 13 flicks profiled by Rabid Doll, this film certainly incites the most chuckles, yet doggedly avoids compromising its status as a serious horror movie. From the start to the final frame, this is one bleak experience. Skillfully scripted by Karen Walton and directed by John Fawcett, "Ginger Snaps" treads into grim themes most mainstream productions cringe at. Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins) are two teenage sisters with a deliciously morbid outlook on life. They despise their existence in the bland Canadian community, Bailey Downs. Life is simply a disappointment. In fact, both relish the opportunity to die together. It's a secret pact that guides much of the film. At school, Ginger and Brigitte's role as outcasts is clear. During the movie's opening moments, a homework project provides an opportunity to creatively jab their disapproving classmates and teacher. The event firmly sets the film's tone. A photo slideshow profiles a shocking series of staged death scenes, illustrating the sisters' craftsmanship and devotion to the macabre. The teacher's flabbergasted expression says it all. It actually reminded me of my high school art class where I pulled a similar stunt. I like these freaks! During a late-night attempt to launch another sick prank on a classmate, the sisters are attacked by a werewolf at the same moment Ginger starts menstruating. She is bit, but they manage to dart across a road just as a passing van collides with the creature. The poor lycanthrope peppers the pavement like a busted watermelon. The van's driver, Sam (Kris Lemche), is their high school's groundskeeper, who discreetly deals pot on the side. He soon becomes Brigitte's go-to person for dealing with Ginger's disastrous descent into lycanthropy. Like most werewolf tales, the physical wounds of the attack are irrelevant. Ginger heals at a remarkable rate. But she suffers usual hair growth, shows an abrupt interest in boys, and endures wild mood swings. "Ginger Snaps" makes lycanthropy a metaphor for puberty. Only this trip to womanhood comes with a bony trail, jagged teeth, and healthy appetite for raw meat. Meanwhile, the sisters' parents, Pamela (Mimi Rogers) and Henry (John Bourgeois), are simple background props for the story. They suspect something is amiss with their daughters, but nailing the mystery is no easy task when the girls perpetually flaunt all that is grotesque. Bourgeois' amusingly baffled expressions are priceless, and Rogers' quirky portrayal of Pamela creates a fascinating character that inexplicably disappears before the climax. In the primary roles, actresses Isabelle and Perkins were made to play these sisters. They exhibit a natural bond and confidently look at home in their characters' ghastly world. If you're seeking a fun fright flick, I suggest you look elsewhere. That's not to say there aren't some good laughs here. However, not much goes right for anyone. It's the type of merciless moviemaking approach typical of independent foreign releases, such as our other favorites, Haute Tension (France) and The Descent (United Kingdom). These films toss off the conventional with gusto. Like many of my horror favorites, "Ginger Snaps" (Canada) could care less if you're wracked with depression by the conclusion and seeking relief at your local bar. Pass that bottle! For more information on Rabid Doll’s Top 13 horror movie picks, view these stories: Rabid Doll’s Top 13 Horror Picks ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’ Ranks High ‘Suspiria’ Is Candy-Colored Nightmare ‘Dawn Of The Dead’ Disturbs After All These Years 'The Descent’ Crafts Genuine Fear' Express yourself and be part of the news! Leave a comment below or join our rabid discussions on the SyBoards.