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[#Horror #reTweet] Rabid (1977)
Rabid (1977)
By Scott Shoyer
This is the raw, gruesome, and disturbing Cronenberg I love. RABID is one of David Cronenberg’s body horror masterpieces (along with SHIVERS, THE BROOD, VIDEODROME, and THE FLY). Fans of both David Cronenberg and Anything Horror will be familiar with the sub-genre in horror known as “body horror.” In this sub-genre the human body itself becomes the focal point of the film. The body is shown, often times in explicit detail, as the fragile canvass upon which many different horrors could manifest. For a modern example of this sub-genre check out the short films of Scottish filmmaker Andy Stewart. Cronenberg, though, is one of the first to explore the fertile area of body horror and this theme can be found in most of his films. In some it’s subtle (EXISTENZ) while in others (like RABID) it’s the dominant theme that drives the plot.
RABID was made early in Cronenberg’s career (it’s his second feature length film) and it was my introduction to his movies. Needless to say I was an instant and devout fan who couldn’t get enough. RABID is an ambitious film. It boasts a fairly big cast, multiple filming locations, and it plays around with other sub-genres. The main plot revolves around the theme of body horror but Cronenberg also throws in an apocalyptic theme as well as a theme that comes very close to vampires. But Cronenberg, who also wrote the film, is no amateur and has a laser-like focus on the material and never loses sight of what he wants this film to be.
Rose (Marilyn Chambers, a huge star in the porn world. This is her first non-porn role) is involved in a terrible motorcycle accident. The closest hospital to the accident isn’t actually a hospital at all but a privately owned clinic. You just know nothing good ever comes out of those “privately owned clinics!!” Rose was severely burned on most of her body but lucky for her (!!) the clinic has been playing around with a highly experimental skin graft procedure. The doctors were anxious to do some human experimentation with their procedure and like some gift from a god with a sense of humor here’s poor Rose who desperately needs said procedure. Isn’t she lucky!!
At first the procedure seems to be a complete success. Rose is healing quickly with no signs of scar tissue. But before you can say “some side effects may occur,” Rose begins to start acting rather oddly. How oddly, you may wonder? Well it appears that Rose has a phallic, probe-like appendage growing under her arm, she has overwhelming, unnatural impulses to mate with whoever is near her, and she has an unquenchable blood lust. But she’s not simply killing those people she’s fucking and biting with her new appendage. Remember, this is a Cronenberg flick!! The people she “bites” then become rabid, homicidal maniacs who attack others in order to satiate their new found blood lust. Rose is spreading both her legs and a new deadly human form of rabies!!
RABID blends the crazy scientist, vampire(ish), and Cronenberg’s very own “body horror” genres into one gory, sexy, fun ride. There’s also scenes where we see the beginning of the collapse of society and how the city tries to deal with this outbreak. The city’s solution is to organize undertrained “clean up” squads to kill off the infected. Their success rate is pretty much what you’d expect. In typical Cronenberg fashion we also get a real downer of an ending that beautifully captures the overall tone of the film. RABID is a well acted, gory, well written and an important early work from one of the masters of the genre. Not only should all horror fans see RABID but this film should be in every fan’s collection. Not to be missed!!
My Summary:
Director: David Cronenberg
Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Gore: 8 out of 10 skulls
Zombie Mayhem: 3.5 out of 5 brains
Reviewed by Scott Shoyer
David Cronenberg
Marilyn Chambers
Rabid
Shivers
Videodrome
Existenz
Filed under: New Posting
September 15, 2014 at 03:07PM
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