Rabid (1977)

Plot: A young woman develops a taste for human blood after undergoing experimental plastic surgery, and her victims turn into rabid, blood-thirsty zombies who proceed to infect others, which turns into a city-wide epidemic.

Review:

You really can’t go wrong with Cronenberg doing zombies, but on top of that there’s a Succubus played by classic adult film star Marilyn Chambers. It’s a wonderful combination which, even after 30 years, comes across as a very fresh take on the sub-genre.

Rating: 7.0/10

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The Brood (1979)

Plot: A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist’s therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, while a series of brutal attacks committed by a brood of mutant children coincides with the husband’s investigation.

Review:

Since I enjoyed Scanners and Videodrome so much I decided to check out some more, early Cronenberg. The Brood did not disappoint. While it’s more of a straightforward, classic horror film than his later work it’s still has DC’s signature odd, creepy, grotesqueness. It is very good.

Rating: 7.5/10

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The Changeling (1980)

Plot: A man staying at a secluded historical mansion, finds his life being haunted by the presence of a spectre.

Review:

I chose to watch this after seeing it on Martin Scorcese’s Top 11 Horror Films of All Time. While it’s a fine film there’s nothing about it that really stands out. The plot is no different than the average episode of The Ghost Whisperer, and the scares are rather tame even compared to films of the same era. If you really like classic ghost stories it might be worth a viewing, otherwise just watch The Shining again.

Rating: 6.0/10

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