Rabid Blu-ray Review

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, David Cronenberg's "Rabid" arrives on Blu-ray with a faithful yet imperfect 1080p transfer, courtesy of Arrow Video. The transfer stays true to the gritty nature of the original 1977 shocker, maintaining an authentic texture that showcases the low-budget origins of the film. While the 1.78:1 AVC encoding helps retain the film’s vintage aesthetic, it comes with some challenges, such as wavering contrast and diluting shadows. Grain appears natural but varies in texture, with some scenes exhibiting coarse grains due to the original film stock. Colors are carefully re-graded to replicate the theatrical presentation, featuring muted tones that align with the bleak, autumnal palette used in filming. However, certain outdoor sequences have a greenish/blueish tint that destabilizes key colors like red and white, making the saturation appear somewhat distracting.

Detail and clarity are consistently pleasing, with the transfer enabling viewers to notice intricate details such as graffiti on walls, name-tags, and packing crates. Skin tones maintain a sickly TV pallor, which adds to the film's eerie atmosphere. The consistent resolution allows for clear visibility of costumes, facial details, surgical instruments, and festive decorations that provide an engaging distraction from otherwise mundane settings. Despite this, there were issues with visual consistency, such as contrast fades and occasional blooming at the extreme edges of the frame, mainly attributed to the source elements. Additionally, occasional tiny jumps and visual impairments during transitions may prove to be a minor distraction.

Overall image stability is good, with no significant digital banding or smearing present. Panning shots are handled effectively without becoming a digital mess. The film benefits from an absence of problematic degraining or sharpening adjustments, ensuring a faithful reproduction of Cronenberg's visionary work. This Blu-ray release likely looks more gnarly and ghoulish than ever before due to the robust, yet flawed, preservation of its original roughness and grit.

The audio presentation on the Blu-ray release of "Rabid" offers an uncompressed PCM 1.0 track. Arrow Video's restoration ensures that the occasional issues of high-frequency unevenness and mild background hiss do not detract from the overall experience. Gunshots, explosions, and even a pneumatic drill sound clean and powerful within the constraints of the mono track. Each sound effect, including shouts and screams, is sharply delivered, providing a visceral experience during intense moments. The dialogue remains clear and stable throughout, allowing for nuanced voice renderings without dropouts, although there is a slight shrillness during particularly loud exchanges.

The audio transfer also handles the film’s music effectively, capturing the atmospheric quality of specific tracks like Marilyn Chambers’ "Benihana" and Brian Bennett's "Hideout". However, Cronenberg’s choice of music placement can feel inappropriate and overly distracting at times. Despite this occasional misstep in musical spotting, the overall audio restoration is commendable, marking this as the best that "Rabid" has sounded to date. Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature are also provided by Arrow Video, enhancing accessibility without compromising audio integrity.

The extras on the Blu-ray edition of "Rabid" are meticulously curated to please even the most dedicated fans. Highlighting this release are two compelling commentary tracks—one by David Cronenberg, exploring key sequences and film nuances, and another by William Beard offering crucial insights into Cronenberg’s directorial evolution. The selection includes rich interviews with David Cronenberg, Ivan Reitman, Joe Blasco, and Don Carmody, each detailing their unique contributions to the film. Also notable is the inclusion of the 1999 documentary "The Directors: David Cronenberg" and "Raw, Rough and Rabid," a feature on Cinepix’s legacy. The packaging boasts custom artwork, a reversible sleeve, and an illustrated booklet with essays and interviews.

Extras included in this disc:

• David Cronenberg Commentary Track: Insightful discussion on scenes, sound, and character performance.
• William Beard Commentary Track: Analysis of Cronenberg’s career and the Canadian film industry.
• David Cronenberg Interview: Talks on Rabid’s critical reception and production.
• Ivan Reitman Interview: Reflection on Cinepix and producing Shivers and Rabid.
• Don Carmody Interview: Recollections of funding and production.
• Joe Blasco Interview: Focus on special effects.
• The Directors: David Cronenberg: Documentary featuring interviews with notable figures.
• Raw, Rough and Rabid: Documentary on Cinepix’s impact.
• Original Trailer: Showcases film sequences.
• Promotional Materials: Posters and lobby cards.
• Isolated Music and Effects Track: Presented in LPCM 1.0.
• Reversible Sleeve: Features original and new artwork.
• Collector’s Booklet: Essays and original stills/posters.

David Cronenberg's Rabid (1977) explores a darkly imaginative and unsettling narrative brilliantly filled with socio-political undertones. The film centers around a young woman named Rose, played by adult star Marilyn Chambers, who undergoes a peculiar skin-graft operation following a motorcycle accident. Unsurprisingly, Rose awakens from a coma to discover a vampiric stinger growing in her armpit which compels her to drain blood from others—causing them to turn into rabid, rage-filled zombies. The ensuing chaos spreads from Quebec into Montreal, embodying both the fear of contagion and evoking timely societal issues. Rose's boyfriend, blandly portrayed by Frank Moore, embarks on a journey to find her, further driving the episodic and occasionally repetitive nature of the film.

Cronenberg's vision fervently permeates Rabid, with performances that are generally acceptable, bolstered by Chambers' physicality and intense portrayal. The frequent attack sequences inject genuine fear, setting a grim tone that aligns the film with contemporaries like Dawn of the Dead, while foreshadowing later hits such as 28 Days Later. Despite its uneven pacing and predictability, Rabid's narrative grapples with themes of arousal and contagion—eerily prescient of the AIDS pandemic. The film’s low-budget constraints are palpable; however, Cronenberg’s innovative flair still shines through, particularly in his not-yet-refined but promising directorial style marked by gritty close-ups and dynamic camera work.

Cinematographer Rene Verzier complements Cronenberg’s vision, with his prior experience in softcore films at Cinepix lending an unpolished but evocative visual aesthetic. While the editing, handled by Jean LaFleur, falls short of expectation—reflecting its exploitation cinema roots—the film’s crude composition inadvertently enhances its raw and visceral impact. Ultimately, Cronenberg’s emergent genius is unmistakable in Rabid, weaving an unsettling tapestry of horror that resonates with socio-political fear while showcasing his burgeoning talent in body horror cinematics.

David Cronenberg’s Rabid remains an essential piece for enthusiasts of cult cinema and body horror, featuring several of the director’s signature themes: psychological corruption, disease, and bleak societal breakdowns. Despite its ambitious narrative, the film simultaneously benefits and suffers from its low-budget production. While the epic scope often highlights budget constraints, Cronenberg’s unique blend of horror and socio-political commentary stands strong. Although issues in the screenplay, particularly the lack of precise explanations regarding the experimental procedures and subsequent contagion, may leave some viewers unsettled, the visceral impact and hauntingly memorable scenes are undeniable.

Arrow’s UK Blu-ray release of Rabid caters to fans with a grungy but fittingly accurate transfer that retains the raw aesthetic of the original. The audio greatly exceeds expectations for a film of this vintage, providing a robust listening experience. Accompanying this technical presentation is a rich assortment of extras that delve into the film’s production context and Cronenberg’s developmental journey as a filmmaker. Comparisons to Arrow’s previous release of Shivers affirm that Rabid does not suffer from missing frames or noticeable degradation in quality, adding to its appeal for collectors.

In conclusion, while Rabid may not match the narrative cohesion seen in Cronenberg’s later masterpieces like The Fly or Videodrome, it offers an intriguing blend of horror and speculative fiction that is punctuated by unforgettable imagery and intense sequences. The juxtaposition of advanced surgical techniques with unforeseen plagues hints at Cronenberg’s apprehensive curiosity about scientific progress. This Blu-ray release not only preserves the film’s gritty integrity but also enhances appreciation through insightful supplements. For both long-time fans and new viewers, Rabid on Blu-ray is highly recommended for its cultural significance and enduring impact within the genre.