After a young woman named Rose suffers a disfiguring accident, she undergoes an experimental stem cell treatment that leads to unintended consequences. She starts to have hallucinations and imagines killing people.
In February 2016, Jen and Sylvia Soska were hired to direct a remake of David Cronenberg's 1977 horror film Rabid, with producers Michael Walker, Paul LaLonde and John Vidette.[5] The film had entered pre-production by February 2018, during which time the Soskas described the project as a continuation of the "thoughts and conversation" from the original and "modernized through a female perspective".[6] In May 2018, Laura Vandervoort was cast as the film's protagonist, Rose.[2]
The film was produced by Back 40 Pictures in conjunction with Telefilm Canada and Ontario Media Development Corporation, and was financed by The Royal Bank of Canada, Media Finance Capital.[2] Distribution rights were acquired by A71 Entertainment in Canada,[8]Shout! Studios in the United States,[9] 101 Films in the United Kingdom, and Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.[2]
Release
Rabid premiered at the London FrightFest Film Festival on August 26, 2019.[1][10]Rabid held its US premiere on October 15, 2019, at Screamfest Horror Film Festival in Los Angeles.[11] The film was released theatrically, digitally, and on video on demand on December 13, 2019, by Shout! Studios.[12] Release on DVD and Blu-Ray was on February 4, 2020.[13]
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 56%, based on reviews from 32 critics.[14]