Rabid (Collector’s Edition): Blu-Ray Review
Arriving this week on Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is David Cronenberg’s 1977 Canadian body-horror film, “Rabid”. Fans of this underrated Cronenberg classic will be pleased to learn that Scream Factory has delivered a beautiful new 2K transfer in the filmmaker’s preferred 1:66:1 aspect ratio.
“Rabid” is a film I hadn’t seen since I was a kid, more than 30 years-ago. Having just re-watched it, I must say that Cronenberg was way ahead of his time. His fascination with body manipulation is all-too apparent here and it makes total sense that he would go on to direct such 80’s classics like “The Fly” and “Dead Ringers”. “Rabid” also marked adult film star Marilyn Chambers first leading role in a mainstream film.
“Rabid” centers on Rose (Chambers), a young woman who goes a radical surgery and wakes up with a thirst for human blood. She is not a vampire, but she does have a stinger that shoots out of her armpit and sucks the blood from her victims. If that wasn’t bad enough, she winds up infecting those she feeds on and they become rabid, blood-thirsty maniacs. “Rabid” is pretty much a zombie movie with a beautiful woman infecting people every time she gets hungry.
Although this isn’t one of my top films from Cronenberg, it deserves a place on the shelf for anyone who celebrates the filmmaker’s work. The Collector’s Edition does include a healthy amount of bonus features and should keep fans happy.
Bonus Features
- NEW 2K Scan From The Negative At Director David Cronenberg’s Preferred Aspect Ratio (1.66:1)
- NEW Audio Interview With Author Jill C. Nelson (Golden Goddesses: 25 Legendary Women Of Classic Erotic Cinema, 1968-1985) And Marilyn Chambers’ Personal Appearances Manager Ken Leicht
- NEW Young And Rabid – An Interview With Actress Susan Roman
- Audio Commentary With Writer/Director David Cronenberg
- Audio Commentary With William Beard, Author Of The Artist As Monster: The Cinema Of David Cronenberg
- Archival Interview With David Cronenberg
- Interview With Executive Producer Ivan Reitman
- Interview With Co-producer Don Carmody
- From Stereo To Video – A Video Essay By Caelum Vatnsdal, Author Of They Came From Within: A History Of Canadian Horror Cinema
- Original Theatrical Trailer And TV Spot
- Radio Spots (U.S. And U.K.)
- Still Gallery
By: Marc Ferman