Movies

David Cronenberg’s RABID This Weekend at The Des Peres – Late Nite Grindhouse

By Tom Stockman | February 11, 2020

” Potato man loves ketchup man.”

Destroy the Brain‘s monthly ‘Late Nite Grindhouse’ film series is back in its new location! Head to the Marcus Des Peres Cinema (12701 Manchester Rd, Des Peres, MO 63131) this Friday and Saturday (February 14th and 15th) at 10pm for David Cronenberg’s 1077 biological-horror saga RABID. Since this is a Marcus Theater, you’ll need to reserve your seats ahead of time HERE. There may (or may not be) Tickets available the nights of the screenings, but they may be going fast! Tickets are $8. A Facebook invite for the event can be found HERE

I saw David Cronenberg’s 1977 classic RABID at The Hi-Pointe when it was new in 1977 double-featured with Larry Cohen’s GOD TOLD ME TOO (then titled DEMON). The Destroy the Brain‘s guys ran GOD TOLD ME TOO at their monthly ‘Late Nite Grindhouse’ film series a few years back (at the Hi-Pointe again) and now they’re finally showing RABID this weekend.

RABID is the story of Rose (Marilyn Chambers), who ends up in a nasty motorcycle accident. Fortunately for her, she has a surgery performed on her that saves her life. Unfortunately for her, she’s in a horror movie, so it was an experimental surgery. Said operation has left her with a parasitic growth on her armpit that has causes her to develop a thirst for human blood. Also, her victims become rabid with a form of murderous rage, and the infection is spreading…

RABID is a must see for Cronenberg fans. Former porn star Marilyn Chambers actually pulls off a fine performance,s a great mix between the predatory and sympathetic. It’s also a grim and gory little offering that from the opening to it’s nihilistic conclusion portrays a world ravaged by disease and murder without any hope or safety. There’s also the trademark Cronenberg bursts of grisly violence and sexual body horror, and though it doesn’t have the same impact of SHIVERS and VIDEODROME, there’s still plenty of the ‘new flesh’ to celebrate. In particular is the orifice that hides the parasite. It looks very sexual, and is an effective precursor to what the director would offer in the future.