Cult Films Meet-Up: David Cronenberg's RABID

Portland Movie Club Meet-Up - Spotlight on David Cronenberg's RABID
Let's talk about movies! Join Movie Club Members David J. and Catherine O. for David Cronenberg’s “Rabid” (1977). It was the writer-director’s second commercial film, produced by none other than Ivan Reitman (future director of mainstream Hollywood hits “Stripes” and “Ghostbusters”), and starring in a notable choice adult film star Marilyn Chambers.

Here's how it works:
1. Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet.
2. We'll meet at Breakside Brewery in Beaverton, OR at 4pm. We'll have signs at our tables, but we'll also try to be obvious and identifiable. Please note this is a change in venue from many of our previously scheduled Sunday Meet-Up events.
3. Grab some food and drinks and spend some enjoyable time discussing this masterpiece with us.

A little about RABID:
This low budget, independent Canadian shocker was an original work by Cronenberg, and one of the formative building blocks in his reputation as the creator of the "body-horror" sub-genre. The aftermath of an experimental surgery to save a biker’s life and repair her burn-damaged flesh results in skin grafts taking on a life of their own – producing a parasite which spreads contagion throughout an unprepared population. “Rabid” can also be read alongside George Romero’s “The Crazies” as a pivotal early entry in both zombie-adjacent and plague sub-genres in the horror canon – as well as a fascinating look at unregulated experimentation by reckless male scientists on the female form.

David Cronenberg has told a story associated with the making of “Rabid,” relaying that his landlady, upon finding out that he’d directed a movie starring what she believed to be a notorious adult film actress, promptly evicted him. He got back at her by moving into another house just across the street – so she’d still have to watch him living in her neighborhood every day. Since such a knee-jerk reaction to the reputation of adult film stars and/or sex workers isn’t uncommon, we’d like to request that everyone attending this Meet-Up be respectful of the sex-work industry and not disrespect or ridicule those associated with such work, or the work itself. We are not here to demean our friends or associates or their friends or associates.

Here's a suggestion from our co-host Catherine O.: Ready for a double feature? Try watching and comparing the themes in this movie to “Raw,” made in 2016 by director Julia Ducornau. She is perhaps better known for the 2021 Cannes Film Festival prize winner “Titane.”

Viewing Options
Streaming options are reported to include Amazon Prime, Tubi, Plex, Pluto and a wide variety of services. There have been numerous Blu-ray and DVD releases that should be easy to find for sale online or for rental at an outlet like Movie Madness. This title should be easy to find.

About Cult Films
Sometimes good, almost always interesting, and only somewhat definable. This very special category of cinema is known for its dedicated fanbases, high-camp kitsch, transgressive ideas, counterculture perspectives, polarized reception, and sometimes for artfulness, but far more often for obscurity. Many cult films exist at the borderline between art and exploitation.

While Cult Films typically defy mainstream criticism, they are rich candidates for open-minded entertainment and interpretation, viewed through a lens that emphasizes their unique perspectives regardless of their financial success or failure.

Tips

1. Haven't seen the movie in a while? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can
2. Many of the regularly attending members casually take a few notes while watching to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!

Previous titles viewed by our Cult Film Meet-up members for group discussion have included “Barbarella,” “Fantastic Planet,” “The Brain That Wouldn't Die," Takashi Miike's "Audition," “Daisies,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “The Human Tornado,” “Eraserhead,” “The Love Witch,” “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” “Phantom of The Paradise,” as well as David Cronenberg’s “Videodrome” and "The Brood."

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