Rabid

To be fair, I've never seen David Cronenberg's classic horror film "Rabid," so the fact that the Soska Sisters ("American Mary") have done a remake is lost on me in that respect. As a standalone film, however, it doesn't break any new ground, but it's fairly entertaining and has a really good cast.

Veering a bit from the original, this version stars an excellent Laura Vandernvoort as Rose, a slightly scarred designer-wannabe working for an affected designer named Gunter (Mackenzie Gray). Her best friend, Chelsea (Hanneke Talbot), is a model there and a guy she sort of likes named Brad (Benjamin Hollwingsworth) is the staff photographer.

When Chelsea arranges for Brad to take Rose to a work party, Rose finds out and thinks she's being pitied and rushes out of the party, only to be hit by a car. Horrendously disfigured, she is soon contacted by a mysterious plastic surgery clinic who agrees to pay her bills if they can utilize a new procedure on her. They do just that, and she looks better than ever! But she soon gets a strange hunger for blood, and that hunger starts to infect those she comes in contact with causing a city-wide outbreak of zombie-like rabid humans.

The Soska Sisters direct their film fairly matter-of-factly. There's nothing overly stylish or specific that makes it stand out. But while aspects appear low budget, the writing and the actors make it feel more polished. Usually in these low budget indie affairs the acting is a bit rough, but everyone here is really good and believable. Also, the characters are sympathetic and likeable which allows the audience to feel comfortable going on the journey with them.

While it has elements of many a zombie movie and even a little "Devil Wears Prada" (her designs get better after her accident), there's nothing startlingly new here you'll be rabid for. It's more of an entertaining curiosity that you won't hate yourself for watching.