Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004)

Director:

Grant Harvey

Writers:

Christina Ray (writer) &
Stephen Massicotte (writer)

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror

Plot:

Set in 19th Century Canada, Brigette and her sister Ginger take refuge in a Traders' Fort which later becomes under siege by some savage werewolves.

Plot Keywords:

Fort | Werewolf | Wendigo | Native American | Stabbed In The Head

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Katharine Isabelle	...	Ginger
Emily Perkins	...	Brigitte
Nathaniel Arcand	...	Hunter
JR Bourne	...	James
Hugh Dillon	...	Reverend Gilbert
Adrien Dorval	...	Seamus
Brendan Fletcher	...	Finn
David La Haye	...	Claude (as David LaHaye)
Tom McCamus	...	Wallace Rowlands
Matthew Walker	...	Doc Murphy
Fabian Bird	...	Milo
Kirk Jarrett	...	Owen
David MacInnis	...	Cormac
Stevie Mitchell	...	Geoffrey
Edna Rain	...	Elder

Directed by
Grant Harvey

Writing credits
Christina Ray		(writer) &
Stephen Massicotte		(writer)

Produced by
Jason Constantine	....	executive producer
Paula Devonshire	....	producer
John Fawcett	....	executive producer
Grant Harvey	....	producer
Steven Hoban	....	producer
Jason Lee	....	associate producer
Philip Mellows	....	executive producer: 49 Films Inc.
Karyn Nolan	....	associate producer
Noah Segal	....	executive producer
Donna Sloan	....	executive producer
Mark Smith	....	associate producer
Tyman Stewart	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Alex Khaskin

Cinematography by
Michael Marshall		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ken Filewych

Casting by
Carmen Kotyk

Production Design by
Todd Cherniawsky

Art Direction by
Doug Blackie

Set Decoration by
Jim Murray

Costume Design by
Alex Kavanagh

Makeup Department
Lloyd Bell	....	assistant hair stylist
Sarah Graham	....	assistant makeup artist
Prudence Olenik	....	key makeup artist
Leanne Rae Podavin	....	key prosthetic makeup artist: KNB EFX Group Inc. (as Leanne Podavin)
Rose Rimmer	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Mark Smith	....	project manager: 49 Films Inc.
Doug Steeden	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alex Burnett	....	trainee assistant director
Ehud Ellman	....	first assistant director
Cory Faulkner	....	third assistant director
John Fawcett	....	second unit director
Ken Filewych	....	second unit director
Pamela Wintringham	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Pam Wintringham)
Pamela Wintringham	....	second assistant director (as Pam Wintringham)

Art Department
Renee Baril	....	assistant set decorator
Dan Beggs	....	set dresser (as Daniel Beggs)
Melanie Brasch	....	painter
Scott Bricker	....	painter
Greg Brown	....	carpenter
Cathy Cooper	....	painter
John Dambrauskas	....	greens coordinator (as John Damcrauskas)
Kirk Eberle	....	artist: original title illustrations
Larry Farley	....	carpenter
John Gallagher	....	illustrator
John Gallagher	....	storyboard artist
Eugene Gogowich	....	on-set greens
Shelly Goldsack	....	art department coordinator
Charlynn Gordon	....	painter
Jim Gray	....	on-set dresser
Russel Gray	....	first assistant art director (as Russell Gray)
Amanda Griffiths	....	painter
George Griffiths	....	paint coordinator
Krista Hendrikx	....	greens assistant
Jeff Howe	....	head carpenter
Don Ives	....	construction coordinator
Wayne Jeannotte	....	carpenter
Dean Jones	....	carpenter
Tom Kerr	....	greens assistant
Avery King	....	lead set dresser
Willy Lever	....	greens assistant
Pieter Luider	....	carpenter
Scott McCaw	....	carpenter
Catherine Mudryk	....	second assistant art director
Justin Onofriechuk	....	props assistant
Dave Oudshoorn	....	on-set carpenter
Tom Purse	....	painter
Richard 'Buck' Stevens	....	head painter
Randy Swanson	....	carpenter
Darcy Turlock	....	carpenter
Ken Wills	....	property master
Sherrie Wills	....	props buyer
Bill Woytiuk	....	greens assistant
Tom Yaremko	....	greens assistant (as Thomas Yaremko)

Sound Department
Marina Adam	....	foley assistant
Matt Ahrens	....	second assistant sound editor
Steph Carrier	....	sound re-recording mixer
Garrell Clark	....	sound mixer
Erik Culp	....	foley mixer
Barry Gilmore	....	dialogue editor
Jack Heeren	....	foley recordist
Ronayne Higginson	....	adr editor
Martin Gwynn Jones	....	second assistant sound editor
Garrett Kerr	....	sound effects editor
Darcy Kite	....	adr recordist
David McCallum	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Moore	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Brent Pickett	....	first assistant sound editor
Donna Powell	....	foley artist
Adam Sharpe	....	adr mixer
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Tauber	....	boom operator
Brandon Walker	....	adr editor
David Yonson	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Chad Atkinson	....	lab department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Geoff Bacchus	....	special effects rigger
Linda Bastin	....	purchasing department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Howard Berger	....	designer: special makeup effects & werewolf animatronics
Howard Berger	....	on set puppeteer: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Kamar Bitar	....	office coordinator: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Judy Bowerman	....	fabrication department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Connie Cadwell	....	fabrication department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Bob David	....	special effects assistant
Michael Deak	....	shop supervisor: KNB EFX Group Inc. (as Michael S. Deak)
Chiz Hasegawa	....	office coordinator: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Beth Hathaway	....	fabrication department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Grady Holder	....	lab department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Rick Kess	....	fabrication department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Luke Khanlian	....	mechanical department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Luke Khanlian	....	on set puppeteer: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Brian Kinney	....	lab department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Louis Kiss	....	lab department: KNB EFX Group Inc. (as Lou Kiss)
Neil Krause	....	special effects technician
Derek Krout	....	lab department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Robert Kurtzman	....	designer: special makeup effects & werewolf animatronics
Wade Maurer	....	special effects technician
Jake McKinnon	....	suit performer: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Kevin McTurk	....	suit performer: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Clare Mulroy	....	fabrication department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Gregory Nicotero	....	designer: special makeup effects & werewolf animatronics (as Greg Nicotero)
Scott Patton	....	art department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
David Perteet	....	art department: KNB EFX Group Inc. (as Dave Perteet)
Alan Poole	....	special effects shop foreman
Ben Rittenhouse	....	lab department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Russell Seifert	....	lab department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Eric Skodis	....	purchasing department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Scott Stoddard	....	art department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Mark Tavares	....	art department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
Leo Wieser	....	special effects supervisor
David Wogh	....	mechanical department: KNB EFX Group Inc.
David Wogh	....	on set puppeteer: KNB EFX Group Inc.

Visual Effects by
Pietro Gallo	....	visual effects artist
Rev. Rob Gyorgy	....	senior visual effects artist
Chad Malbon	....	digital film producer
Chad Malbon	....	visual effects producer
Eric Myles	....	digital film supervisor
Andrew Pascoe	....	digital film technician
Brian Reid	....	visual effects artist

Stunts
Nicki Cammaert	....	stunt performer (as Niki Cammaert)
Wanda Ferraton	....	stunt performer
Kirk Jarrett	....	stunt coordinator
Kirk Jarrett	....	stunt performer
Lori MacKay	....	stunt performer (as Lori McKay)
Jodi Stecyk	....	stunt coordinator
Jodi Stecyk	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Gordon Armstrong	....	electrician
Chris Bang	....	camera trainee
Brigette Bennett	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Jeff Connors	....	grip
Jarrett Craig	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Kathy Deugau	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Katherine Deugau)
Wes Doyle	....	director of photography: second unit
Regan Enderl	....	first assistant camera
Rick Garbutt	....	macro photographer
Rick Garbutt	....	time-lapse photographer
Warren Gibson	....	best boy grip
David Gordon	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Perry Harris	....	electrician
Sean Jensen	....	Steadicam operator
Sean Jensen	....	camera operator
Brian A. Kuchera	....	key grip (as Brian Kuchera)
Brett Manyluk	....	second assistant camera
Peter Markowski	....	best boy
Tim Milligan	....	dolly grip
Dan Power	....	still photographer
Robert Riddell	....	camera operator: second unit (as Bob Riddell)
Alison J. Stewart	....	grip (as Alison Rigby)
Ostap Toroshenko	....	key grip
Al Wightmore	....	generator operator (as Alan Wightmore)
Martin Wilde	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marjorie Bagherpour	....	costume breakdown artist
Catherine Bamsey	....	stitcher
Devora Brown	....	dresser
Judy Darough	....	costume cutter: women (as Judith Darough)
Bonnie Depuis	....	stitcher
Jeffrey Fayle	....	wardrobe set supervisor (as Jeff Fayle)
Jennifer Haffenden	....	assistant costume designer
Trudy Jansen	....	costume cutter: men
Laura Lee Osborne	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Jennifer Babcock	....	post-production coordinator
Shelley Bakus	....	assistant picture editor (as Shelly Bakus)
Walt Biljan	....	digital color grading
Chad Glastonbury	....	negative cutter
Peter Kay	....	laboratory timer
Stephen Kent	....	colorist: dailies
Milada Kovácová	....	negative cutter (as Milada Kovacova)
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Ed Segeren	....	avid technician

Transportation Department
Grant Bassingthwhite	....	driver: wardrobe truck (as Grant Bassingthwaite)
Robin Bunney	....	driver: honeywagon
Dennis Fitzgerald	....	transportation coordinator
Ian Heacock	....	driver
Bill Janssen	....	driver
Grant McPhee	....	transportation captain
Kathleen Vold	....	driver

Other crew
Ian Barr	....	story consultant
Camille Beaudoin	....	location production assistant
Stuart Becker	....	location trainee
T.J. Bews	....	horse wrangler (as TJ Bews)
Elizabeth Bolstler	....	assistant accountant (as Libby Bolstler)
Laurette Bourassa	....	production coordinator
Christina Buchli	....	additional production legals: Heenan Blaikie
Sherry Chafe	....	post-production accountant
Kevin Chandoo	....	title designer
Jake Chapman	....	location production assistant
Ken Chubb	....	story consultant
Jesse Cooper	....	assistant to director
Cindy French	....	accounting clerk
Michelle Gougeon	....	assistant coordinator
Kira-Leigh Hansen	....	stand-in
Meghan Heffern	....	stand-in
Ed Heury	....	assistant location manager
Shelly Hong	....	project coordinator: 49 Films Inc.
Ed Huery	....	assistant location manager
Gordon Imlach	....	unit publicist
Bonnie Judd	....	animal coordinator
Bonnie Judd	....	animal trainer
Jim Kennedy	....	craft service
Jim Kennedy	....	first aid
Kimberly Killam	....	production accountant (as Kim Killam)
Keith Alan Kozak	....	chef (as Keith Kozak)
Flo Krisko	....	dog wrangler
Joanna Krupicz	....	location production assistant
Lorelei Kuchera	....	script supervisor: second unit
Daren Lucas	....	stand-in (as Darren Lucas)
Marion Milner	....	script supervisor
Tracy Noga	....	office production assistant
Karyn Nolan	....	business & legal affairs: 49 Films Inc.
David Porter	....	chef
Eric Rebalkin	....	location manager
Judy Robinson	....	office production assistant
Linda Rose	....	post-production accountant
David Steinberg	....	production attorney: Heenan Blaikie
Ostap Toroshenko	....	production facilitator
Mark Wood	....	general manager: CanWest Studios
Mark Wood	....	general manager: Studio Post

Production Companies

• 49 Films
• Combustion
• Lions Gate Films (in association)

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2007) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Seville Pictures (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Veronica (2007) (Netherlands) (TV)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Bleeding Art Industries
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special makeup effects) (as KNB EFX Group Inc.)
• Toybox (visual effects) (as alphacine / TOYBOX)

Other Companies

• Alberta Film Development Program of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The  produced with the participation of
• Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA)  acknowledgment
• CanWest Studios  studio
• Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO)  produced with the participation of
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)  acknowledgment
• Canine Co-Stars of Canada  dog trainer (as Canine Costars)
• Casablanca Sound and Picture  sound mixing services (as Casablanca)
• Catherine Rankin Productions Ltd.  negative cutting
• DGC  acknowledgment
• Film Finances Canada  completion bond
• Glenbow Archives  title illustrations courtesy of (as Glenbow Archives NA-1406-[111])
• Government of Ontario: Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program  produced with the participation of (as Government of Ontario - The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit)
• Heenan Blaikie Lawyers  production counsel (as Heenan Blaikie)
• Jones Brown Insurance  insurance
• Kay and Warburton  additional post accounting (as Kay & Warburton)
• Maverick Catering  catering
• Movie Central Network  produced with the participation of (as Movie Central, A Corus Entertainment Company)
• National Bank of Canada  bank financing
• Production Paramedics  on-set medical services
• Rights Company, The  legal research and clearances
• Sharpe Sound Studios  additional adr: Vancouver (as Sharpe Sound)
• Solid Green  original title illustrations
• Studio Marko  additional adr: Montreal
• Studio Post  processing (as Studio Post Film Labs)
• Studio Post and Transfer  post-production facilities (as Studio Post & Transfer)
• Tattersall Post Production  sound editing services (as Tattersall Post)
• The National Museum of Health and Medicine  title illustrations courtesy of (as National Museum of Medicine)
• Téléfilm Canada  produced with the participation of (as Telefilm Canada)
• Wolf Willow Sound  additional adr: Edmonton

Also Known As:

Entre soeurs 3 - Le début (Canada: French title)
Ginger Snaps 3
Ginger Snaps III: The Beginning (Canada: English title) (working title)
Ginger Snaps: The Prequel (Canada: English title) (working title)
Hellwolf: You Will Be Eaten Alive (Philippines: English title)
Aullidos en la noche (Argentina) (video title) [es]
Ginger Snaps III: Der Anfang (Germany) [de]
Ginger Snaps III: El origen (Spain) (working title) [es]
Ginger snaps - Aux origines du mal (France) [fr]
I parea ton lykon (Greece) (DVD title) [el]
Licantropia (Italy) [it]
Zdjecia Ginger III: Poczatek (Poland) [pl]

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and some language.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Philippines:R-13 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Company:

49 Films

Trivia:

Shot back-to-back with Ginger Snaps: Unleashed (2004).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The movie states it takes place in 1815. All of the rifles/muskets used in the movie are percussion locks, not flintlocks. The percussion cap was invented in the early 1820's. Percussion style rifles did not start becoming prevalent until the 1840's. In fact many of the "Northwest trading companies" produced flintlock trade guns well into the late 1880's.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Brigitte: The day of reckoning - the day the curse grew stronger in the Red and the Black. Sisters united in blood, together forever.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Nightmare in Canada: Canadian Horror on Film (2004) (TV)

Watchable, but shallow

What made the original Ginger Snaps a classic horror movie is the way it used the genre to explore universal themes. It offered a unique take on sibling rivalry, death, suicide, puberty, feminism, sexuality and love. Most poignantly, it gave us Ginger, a complex character with a genuine hatred of herself and everything around her.

Ginger Snaps also introduced Katharine Isabelle and Emily Perkins, two talented, beautiful and utterly believable actresses. So while I was a bit put off by the premise of Ginger Snaps Back, I was excited for the chance to watch the girls reprise their roles.

Ginger Snaps Back is a very watchable movie. It re-imagines the sisters in a different era, which is interesting. It's creepy. The special effects are much better than in the original. The climax is very cool. And the sisters are both perfectly portrayed. Unfortunately, when it was over, I wasn't thinking about my own mortality. I was just thinking, "Hey, cool werewolves."

I was also irritated by the dialog. Most of the time, the characters speak in stilted sentences appropriate to the era. But occasionally, Ginger drops a pithy one liner or a curse word which seems completely out of place.

The supporting cast was filled with stereotypes. The harsh minister and the sage native American hunter were especially flat.

Ginger Snaps Back gives you two things. An entertaining werewolf movie. And an excuse to watch two talented actresses portray Ginger and Brigitte. But it doesn't give you anything beyond that.