Review of Rabid (1977) by Dillinger P — 16 Dec 2015

Decent early Cronenberg. Hampered by uneven performances and constraints of a clearly low budget. After a near-fatal motorcycle accident, Marilyn Chambers is subject to an experimental skin graft procedure (which actually predicts the use of stem cells by quite a number of years).

For some reason Chambers develops a vaginal opening in her armpit. When she is sexually aroused a poisonous proboscis shoots from the opening, draining the human victim of the blood she now craves. The sting has the power to infect its recipient with a highly contagious form of rabies, and before long the city of Montreal, Quebec is overrun with frothing zombified lunatics who crave blood.

Central conceit is actually confusing; this is one case where a bit of explanation may have helped sell the conflict. As it is, the idea is viscerally repulsive in the right way but basically incomprehensible and frankly kind of cheesy.

That said, Cronenberg begins to show signs of improvement in crucial areas, but there was still a long way to go till the glory days of The Dead Zone, The Fly, and Dead Ringers. Elements of zombie invasion, apocalyptic themes, and social commentary predict Romero's Dawn of the Dead while being clearly influenced Romero's earlier Night of the Living Dead and The Crazies.

Not a bad film for horror fans, but most others might as well steer clear as this film isn't likely to bring them around to the genre.