Rabies

Plot

A brother and sister who run away from home find sanctuary in a deserted nature reserve. When the sister falls into the trap of a psychopathic killer, the brother sets out on a race against time to find help. In a twist of fate the rescue of the sister becomes inadvertently intertwined with the lives of a group of young tennis players, a ranger and his dog, as well as a team of policemen

Cast

A surprisingly competent cast, Yael Grobglas and Ania Bukstein were great here.

Verdict

Israel's first horror movie? Well that was my first Israeli movie ever, I watched it to get my Top 10 Israeli movies going but this is not the best start.

For a start there's no reason for this to be called Rabies, not sure if it's a metaphor for something but let's be clear that's not what the film is about.

It's a bungling horror movie that grabs hold of every American horror liche and doubles down on them with every tired trope and then some. You'd think for the first Israeli horror they'd try to forge their own identity instead of relying on what has worked for others to excess.

Rabies is a truly dire film, it's boring, it's soulless, it's by the numbers.

Rants

Of all the tired horror tropes it's the pet death I'm so very very tired of. Enough already, I can confidently say I've never met anyone who likes it so why does every horror filmmaker insist on doing it. Kill people, leave the pets alone. At this stage it damages a movie, it's predictable and it's simply in bad taste.

The Good

Cast are mostly competent

The Bad

So unoriginal Really quite boring Plot is just an amalgamation of better movies.

Rabies, despite the title, has nothing to do with rabies, I think it is supposed to represent how infectious the violence was between the characters as they found themselves in a fight for survival and being paranoid about each other's intentions. Rabies, however, is a really creative, different & entertaining film that I thoroughly enjoyed. It all starts with a female, Tali who has fell down a trap in the woods and her brother, Ofer who is trying to get her out. We learn that the trap was set up by a crazed killer who plans on torchering and killing her. as soon as Ofer goes to try and get help to get his sister free, the madman returns and begins his assault on Tali. This is not a formulaic slasher film where a killer in the woods kills off a group of young 20 somethings one at a time, in fact the killer plays a very small part in the movie and acts more as a catalyst for a series of events that lead to interactions between other characters that stumble into and around the woods.

In addition to Tali, Ofer and the killer, there is also a group of 4 friends on their way to a tennis match who get lost - they end up hitting someone on the road which is how they get involved in the plot & descent into the woods, 2 cops who are called to help the 4 friends and a man who is hunting and surveying the land in the woods with his dog. He also has a girlfriend who we meet at the beginning.

I would definitely recommend this movie. The story line has many unpredictable twists and turns and overall the acting was solid although the girl playing Shir, played by Yael Grobgas was the one weak link. I think her wooden, blank performance was supposed to be a result of her character being in shock but she was just as wooden, blank and unnatural before any bloodshed occurred so I think she's just a horrible actress. That would be my one complaint in this film.

8/10 = rating

A brother and sister who run away from home find sanctuary in a deserted nature reserve. When the sister falls into the trap of a psychopathic killer...

This is probably the best horror film I have seen so far this year (2012). Rich plot, twists, turns, a healthy amount of gore without resorting to CGI. Characters with some depth. A very creepy sexual assault scene (without the aid of nudity being in this picture).

I just have to say I was impressed. The plot weaves in and out of different characters' lives fluidly, expertly. We learn just enough about them to be interested, but not enough to ruin the surprises. You will have many questions throughout the film -- some will be answered and some will not. Is there room for a sequel? Yes, but it would be a mistake to add to this film.

I am not completely clear why the film is called "Rabies". My best guess is because it contains a very contagious violence. But if you are looking for a plague or zombie film, this is not it. (Even "slasher" is not at all correct, regardless of how some people have presented the film.) Do not judge this film by its cover. The box design is rather poor, but the film inside is not. A must-see for horror fans.

Over 30 years in the horror genre and this must have been my first horror that I watched coming from Israel. It's not your usual horror because it's more about how things can turn out rather bad with a sick twist.

It's all about being at the wrong place at the wrong time and just when you think that the police can help you one of them is just a sexist and want to abuse the short skirted girls in which he does by searching for weapons but put his hand were it doesn't belong and it's not her juggs. From there the story about a missing couple turns out in a sick way.

On part of the horror it's low because it never really becomes scary but the effects used makes it rather brutal especially the face being hammered. But what I liked most is that it doesn't have a happy ending.

For the first Israel horror flick I must say that I was surprised even as it didn't look like a real horror it still is. It's being sold as a slasher but for me it wasn't, although it's all about a slasher walking around. It has won a lot of prices and I must agree, you can't see it coming what is going to happen to them all.

Gore 1,5/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

Fresh, inventive, fast paced - this film was like going on a fun roller coaster. Never a dull moment and you do not know exactly what will happen next. Just when you think it is going to follow a formula the bottom drops out. Never having seen any of these actors before added to the experience. At first it may seem there are too many characters but it all blends together at the end. If feels like the directors took the theme of the old movie "After Hours" and paired it with the comedy of "Shaun of the Dead." Then gave it a Cohen brothers twist. I really enjoyed this film and the previous effort (Big Bad Wolves). There are gory scenes (and I dislike gore) but it did not seem excessive or gratuitous.