Post by doomedbloodwork on Jul 31, 2004 8:27:40 GMT -5
David Cronenberg is possibly the most consistent of the independent horror genre film-makers who managed to successfully make a studio offering (THE FLY) and still managed to stay true to his roots of independence with increasingly bizarre movies (M. BUTTERFLY, NAKED LUNCH).
For me, the movie that remains his masterwork, in light of the fact that it features all of those elements prevalent (science gone wrong with undercurrents of sex) is RABID.
Shot in and around Toronto in 1976, the film stars legendary porn star Marilyn Chambers (who starred in Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham's predecessor to LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, TOGETHER and BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR) as Rose, who is injured in a motorcycle crash whilst out riding with her boyfriend Hart (Frank Moore, looking rather like Christopher Walken). They are rescued from the carnage by an ambulance crew headed by Dr. Keloid, who takes them back to his plastic surgery clinic for analysis. Keloid is in the process of trying to put his clinic on the map and uses Rose as a guinea pig of sorts to test out his theories, using skin grafting techniques in a seemingly revolutionary new way.....
The themes in this film were common to his other two films in the 70's, SHIVERS (aka THEY CAME FROM WITHIN) and THE BROOD, which was described by Cronenberg in an interview as his 'version of KRAMER VS KRAMER. I have to say that I found it very difficult to make the connection in that case, as the horror aspect of the movie was far more overwhelming than the personal connection that Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar had.
Nearly 30 years after it's initial release, RABID is as enjoyable as ever and as timely.
For me, the movie that remains his masterwork, in light of the fact that it features all of those elements prevalent (science gone wrong with undercurrents of sex) is RABID.
Shot in and around Toronto in 1976, the film stars legendary porn star Marilyn Chambers (who starred in Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham's predecessor to LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, TOGETHER and BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR) as Rose, who is injured in a motorcycle crash whilst out riding with her boyfriend Hart (Frank Moore, looking rather like Christopher Walken). They are rescued from the carnage by an ambulance crew headed by Dr. Keloid, who takes them back to his plastic surgery clinic for analysis. Keloid is in the process of trying to put his clinic on the map and uses Rose as a guinea pig of sorts to test out his theories, using skin grafting techniques in a seemingly revolutionary new way.....
The themes in this film were common to his other two films in the 70's, SHIVERS (aka THEY CAME FROM WITHIN) and THE BROOD, which was described by Cronenberg in an interview as his 'version of KRAMER VS KRAMER. I have to say that I found it very difficult to make the connection in that case, as the horror aspect of the movie was far more overwhelming than the personal connection that Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar had.
Nearly 30 years after it's initial release, RABID is as enjoyable as ever and as timely.
