Rabid (1977) starring Marilyn Chambers, Frank Moore, Joe Silver, Howard Ryshpan Movie Review

Rabid (1977)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Marilyn Chambers in Rabid (1977)

Not Really Rabid

When Rose (Marilyn Chambers) is involved in a horrific motorbike accident she is taken to a nearby hospital where a surgeon does radical new plastic surgery on her in order to save her life. And it is a success as Rose survives but something strange happened during the operation as not only did she become infected with a virus but an extra appendage forms which she uses as she now craves for blood. But as Rose attacks various victims the infection spreads and those who she infects attack others.

I find watching movies from the 70s incredibly hard because so many of today's directors were establishing their fledgling careers and were gaining fans of their work before they became mainstream and in some cases commercialisation had taken over. It is an issue that I have encountered before when it comes to David Cronenberg as there are those who experienced his earlier movies back in the 70s rave about them where as discovering them now for the first time leaves you a little under whelmed.

That sadly is that case when it comes to "Rabid" a simple enough movie of a woman who becomes infected with a virus and grows an appendage and for all sense and purpose goes on a killing spree except those she infects don't die but attack and infect others as the virus spreads. In truth the story doesn't do a great deal for me and I spent most of the movie waiting for something great to happen and sadly it didn't.

But trying to put myself in the shoes of a horror fan in the late 70s and I can sort of appreciate the rawness of "Rabid". Not only does it feature the attractive porn star Marilyn Chambers but there is a brutality to the violence side of things despite it having an independent feel to it where Cronenberg is being more inventive with his camera work to create atmosphere rather than relying on special effects.

What this all boils down to is that "Rabid" whilst not a terrible move for me is one which probably works best for those who enjoyed David Cronenberg movies during the 70s before he became big. But for those who watch it now for the first time it ends up surprisingly ordinary.


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