Rabid (1976)
Starring: Marilyn Chambers and Joe Silver.
Written and Directed by David Cronenberg
91 minutes.
Rated R
DVD released by Somerville House and Ventura Inc.
Rabid was the second film of David Cronenberg after Shivers. Both films are very similar in theme and were the excellent start to Cronenberg’s great career. With this new digitally remastered “Special Edition” Rabid, for the first time in a region 1 release, can be seen in its original aspect ratio, which is a real treat.
The film concerns a woman named Rose, played by porn star Chambers in a surprisingly great performance, who gets into a serious motorcycle accident and has radical, experimental surgery in order to save her life. She survives the accident only to find that the surgery has given her a growth. This growth also has a taste for human blood. Before too long Rose is on the prowl looking for anyone to ease her hunger. However, when she attacks her victims do not die. Instead they turn, rather quickly, into flesh craving zombies. Soon the whole city of Montreal is taken over.
The film holds up well over the years. The extreme low budget doesn’t take away from the intensity of the plot. This was a film made by a director still learning the craft. Therefore, it isn’t a perfect film, but the themes it deals with are pulled off well. Rabid is much more than just a horror film. It’s a film about relationships and characters that don’t fully have control over their actions. The viewer really feels for Rose at the end of film. Although she was responsible for the outbreak, it really wasn’t her fault. She was being moved by forces from within her body that were more powerful than her mind. That is a theme that Cronenberg would return to again and again.
This new release is pretty well done. The colors aren’t as bright as the UK release, but it’s a good enough transfer for the price. There is also a commentary and interview with Cronenberg on the disc which are pretty interesting. This disc is worth the upgrade from the lower quality, full frame release from a few years ago. If you’re a fan of Cronenberg or of good quality horror films in general, this is a must see. Even if you aren’t into horror films I would recommend it. The gore is little and the plot is much more than the average scary movie. Cronenberg is after all known as the director of “the thinking man’s horror film.”
Grade: B+
Written by David Bohnert
copyright 2004.