review for Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed on AllMovie

With a rabid fan base already cemented in and outside of the horror community, Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed had a lot to live up to in many people's minds, which is too bad because many of them will certainly be let down by this misguided follow-up. While it deserves credit for trying to bring its own flavor to the table, this sequel simply fails to find that unique ingredient that made the first one so tasty. Sure, it brings the series into unexpected dark territory, but most of its twists and turns end up eliciting puzzling reactions rather than pleasant (or rather, unpleasant) surprises. Its hodgepodge of ideas isn't too good to begin with, but combined, they create a baffling experience that only strange, poorly handled sequels end up achieving. The downright feeble attempts at bringing back Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) are embarrassing, as are the loads of new, quirky characters that are introduced. Emily Perkins deserves some credit for being brave enough to take the role of Brigitte to such a brutal level -- even if she seems a little lost underneath KNB's atrociously ugly transformation makeup (something that makes sense contextually, but certainly not aesthetically). The hot/cold twist ending is indeed present, though it's really the cherry on top of a teetering third act -- otherwise known to some as the "tune-out zone." Respectable in its quality for a low-budget production, just not acceptable as a follow-up to an otherwise stellar first act, Ginger Snaps 2 sadly misses the mark for this once exciting and smart horror franchise.