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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

#67. Rabid (1977)

DVD Synopsis: After undergoing radical emergency surgery, Rose (adult film star Marilyn Chambers in her first leading role in a mainstream film) develops an insatiable desire for blood. She searches out victims to satisfy her incurable craving, infecting them with an unknown disease which in turn swiftly drives them insane and equally bloodthirsty.












A clever marriage of vampires and zombies, David Cronenberg's Rabid tackles several challenging issues, such as medical experimentation and the government's role in a time of crisis, and wraps them in a slick, stylish, often quite gory horror film. 

Marilyn Chambers stars as Rose, a woman whose emergency plastic surgery goes very wrong, leading to an epidemic that transforms normal people into mouth-foaming cannibals. The casting of one of the most famous porn stars of the day in a government-funded film was controversial, to say the least, but Chambers silences all critics by delivering a solid performance, walking a fine line between feminine allure and uncontrollable insanity.
 
Rabid is as thought-provoking as it is frightening, and stands as an early example of the genius of David Cronenberg.






2 comments:

  1. Justine again Doctor I love this film, it is so unknown and not seen by many. Glad you have it here.

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  2. @Justine: Thanks so much. I love it too (I'm a Cronenberg fan), and, like you, believe it's a movie definitely worth checking out.

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