Rabid [2019 version] (4 Stars)

"Can anything good come out of Canada?" (John 1:46)

I watched this film a few days ago, but I had to return to it today. I wouldn't say that nothing good ever comes out of Canada, but Canadian films in general don't have a good reputation. There are a lot of talented actors and film makers in Canada, but they prefer to work in America, because that's where the money is. The flip side of the coin is that production costs are cheaper in Canada, so anyone starting out in the industry can make a film with a smaller investment. Jen and Sylvia Soska, better known as the Twisted Twins, should campaign for the recognition of Canadian cinema. How about a "Made in Canada" sticker for all films made north of the border?

Was it loyalty to Canada or cheaper costs that prompted the Soska Sisters to make this film in Canada? It was probably a mixture of the two. Whatever the reason was, this is a very good film, a respectful remake of David Cronenberg's original film, improved by today's special effects.

Another marked improvement over the original is the addition of the fashion world to the film. The contrast with the stale beauty of fashion makes the raw ugliness of the rabies infection look all the more horrific. Mackenzie Gray does a good job as the fashion designer Günter, and his superficial utterances in the later scenes could be lines taken directly from Bruno, but I would have preferred to see a German actor in the role. His accent isn't very convincing.

Jenna Presley doesn't appear in the film, but her beauty is also a good contrast to the film's depiction of ugliness. Her beauty certainly isn't stale, she looks more exciting than any fashion model.

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