Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Rabid Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 25, 2020

While director David Cronenberg mastered his own remake with 1986’s “The Fly,” it’s difficult to imagine anyone having the bravery to rework one of his pictures. Jen and Sylvia Soska step up to the challenge of reinterpretation with “Rabid,” which is an update of a 1977 Cronenberg hit, and a particularly gruesome one at that. The Soska Sisters are no strangers to the gore zone, and while they can’t possibly outgun Cronenberg, they remain respectful of his strangeness, doing very well with the ghoulish oddity of the material, finding some fresh ideas with old ideas. “Rabid” delivers the violent goods with enthusiasm, with the Soskas once again commanding an engaging, grotesque genre offering, continuing their impressive run of B- movie delights.

Rose (Laura Vandervoort) wants to be a top fashion designer, but she’s a timid young woman, embarrassed about facial scars she collected as a child. She works for Gunter (Mackenzie Gray), a megalomaniacal fashion kingpin who doesn’t take Rose seriously, leaving her to confide in Chelsea (Hanneke Talbot), a model who takes a liking to the mousy office pushover. Rose’s confidence is boosted when photographer Brad (Ben Hollingsworth) shows interest in her, but their first encounter is ruined when Rose barely survives a scooter accident. Left with nearly half of her face scraped off, Rose finds a special healing touch with Dr. Burroughs (Ted Atherton) and his unique clinic, which offers experimental treatments featuring stem cell manipulations, offering a new life for those in desperate need. Coming out of surgery, Rose is confronted with a fresh face, finding this extreme beauty opening all sorts of opportunities for her, giving her a professional shot with Gunter. The medical experience also turns Rose into a monster, triggering a craving for blood as begins to attack others, spreading a rabies-like disease across town.

The idea of remaking Cronenberg is fairly reprehensible. Here’s a filmmaker with a singular vision for the macabre and the unnervingly sensual, often heading into areas of desires and danger few others would dare approach. “Rabid” isn’t top-shelf Cronenberg, but the feature remains in line with his screen fetishes and obsessions, giving the Soska Sisters a tremendous creative challenge right out of the gate. The screenplay (co-written by John Serge) doesn’t try to replicate the mid-seventies hysteria of the original picture, instead updating its nightmarish setting, turning to the world of high fashion to generate its unease. Gunter is a man without patience and respect, ruling his headquarters with an iron fist, making life difficult for Rose, who wants to become someone special, but she’s easily intimidated, lacking confidence to make things happen for herself due to her scars, content to remain at the bottom. Troubles worsen for Rose with an invitation to an after-hours party, learning that Brad’s interest in her is purely for sport, sending her off into the night angry and confused.

Rose’s scooter accident commences her nightmarish medical journey, at first confronted with a face that’s missing large amounts of skin. She’s distraught, but offered help from Dr. Burroughs, who presents life-changing stem cell treatment at no cost, exploring transhumanism with a reluctant patient (the helmers arrange a homage to “Dead Ringers” during the surgery scene). When Rose heals, she’s suddenly a knockout, and one with a strict schedule of protein drinks made with mysterious ingredients to help relive hunger pains. She’s returned to the world a new woman, with fresh confidence and outward appeal, allowing her to win over Gunter, who suddenly flips for her gothic dress designs. “Rabid” also begins to play a game of reality, as Rose is subjected to disturbing visons of extreme violence, with Dr. Burroughs reassuring the frightened patient that all the bloodshed is only in her head.

Rabid Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation supplies an engrossing level of detail, which is necessary when dealing with a story that's all about the transformation of looks. Skin particulars are exact throughout the viewing experience, happy to showcase the inherent beauty of the cast and the grotesque evolution of illness, with makeup effects creating gruesome displays of injury and gore. Interiors preserve decorative offerings, and exteriors secure dimension. Costuming is emphasized in the feature, and retains intended textures, especially with high fashion showcases. Delineation does wrestle with solidification at times, but stays mostly communicative. Colors are engaging, frequently entering lighting extremes with club visits and medical hellscapes, with washes of red and blue. Skintones are natural.

Rabid Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix secures dialogue exchanges, which stay fresh and clear, remaining stable through escalations in panic. Scoring cues are equally crisp, securing evil moods and softer moments of fear. Surrounds do well with atmospherics, which increase when violence breaks out, delivering an understanding of crowd panic and medical center alarm. Low-end isn't exhausted, but some weight is felt with violent attacks.

Rabid Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features Jen and Sylvia Soska.

• Behind the Scenes (16:21, HD) should be a home run featurette exploring the making of "Rabid," but technical troubles diminish the whole thing, as sound issues carry throughout the entire presentation, making it difficult to understand what The Soska Sisters are saying, often with great enthusiasm. The siblings are joined by an initially unidentified man (later credited as Paul McEvoy, and it's never clarified who he is or why he's on the set), at first questioned on the streets of the Canadian location, and later on a nearly empty set, with the sole addition being a coffin. The conversation is random, but explores stunt work, the process of approaching a remake, celebrating film highlights, David Cronenberg fandom, screenplay themes and "female gaze" intentions, casting, and the process of working together as twins. Again, excitement is there, and the Soskas seem ready to share anything about "Rabid," but sound issues are irksome, as is the lack of a true look at the production in motion.

• Interview (4:04, HD) with Laura Vandervoort reconnects with McEvoy (again, he doesn't introduce himself) to discuss the actress's involvement with "Rabid," detailing her character and the overall story of the movie. Vandervoort shares her love of genre films (drawn to the "darker stuff") and her initial impression of the Soskas, who were initially brought in for a different project before switching focus to "Rabid."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:47, HD) is included.

Rabid Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Of course, comfort isn't the case, with the blood cravings soon overpowering Rose, who begins to feed on select men, turning them into carriers of a vampiric flu that's reported as a rabies epidemic. The Soskas dial up the gore and panic, creating vivid attack scenes with crazed predators, and they poke fun at the fashion industry, finding little difference between the professionals and the diseased. There are a few productions shortcomings, including a lack of cinematic presence, as most of the picture resembles a hard R-rated television movie, but the Soska Sisters remain committed to the gruesome aspects of the story and its wild, bodily transformation extremes. There's no topping Cronenberg, but the helmers deliver their own grim take on "Rabid," offering newfound glossiness while still tending to the fleshy horrors of the original endeavor.