Obviously, somebody knew thirty years ago that David Cronenberg was a director with a different way of looking at just about everything; Rabid is a standard horror film handled with sophistication and a propensity for the strange. I consider myself a David Cronenberg fan, so I can’t explain my delay in watching this little jewel from the early part of his catalogue. I think this was his second feature, and what stands out is an artist confident in their abilities. The movie is smart, sexy, and gross – all staples of the Cronenberg film diet.

For 1977, Rabid is on par with the early Michael Crichton films such as Westworld and The Andromeda Strain (just quite a bit more on the horror side of things). What I mean by that is, his movies have a mixture of intellectual dialogue with horror or science fiction thrown in the mix. Early on in the film, Rose, played by 1970’s porno queen Marilyn Chambers trying to go mainstream, is severely injured in a motorcycle accident. She is rushed to a hospital, and receives emergency surgery. Unfortunately for Rose, as we will find out later, the doctor gives her an experimental skin graft that infect her with a parasite. What is unveiled is a creature that inhabits a typically Cronenberg butthole shaped orifice in Marilyn Chambers’ armpit, (yes, I said armpit) and it infects a rabies like virus in all that it comes in contact with. Pretty soon the whole town is infected, and something must be done before she infects everybody.

I think Rabid should be required viewing for all David Cronenberg curious types. He is at his best; pushing buttons by playing with the things we are all vulnerable about – this time, it is the doctor’s care. There is no underlying mad doctor sense about the surgeon, it is just matter of fact – a doctor just wants to try out his weird experiment with no diabolical Re-animator like plan, just curious to see. This feeling was further exploited in his later classic Dead Ringers – remember the gynecological instruments for mutant women? The cold scenes of Rose prostituting herself for victims, completely turns the tables on the standard John fearing hookers of films past. So, if you are a fan of early Cronenberg, go rent or buy Rabid, I am sure you won’t be disappointed.