Rabid

A young woman, Rose, survives a disfiguring car accident and undergoes experimental plastic surgery. However, the procedure leaves her with an insatiable bloodlust, developing a phallic-like appendage from her armpit that drains the life force from her victims. As she succumbs to her condition, she inadvertently spreads a virulent plague throughout the city, turning ordinary citizens into rampaging, bloodthirsty madmen.

David Cronenberg's early work, 'Rabid,' is a visceral and disturbing exploration of societal anxieties surrounding disease, sexuality, and the body. While it shocked audiences with its graphic content and themes, it has since been recognized as a significant early entry in Cronenberg's body of work, showcasing his developing style of body horror and psychological terror. Despite its polarizing reception at the time, it has gained a cult following among horror enthusiasts.

• Cronenberg's signature body horror is on full display, creating a disturbing and unsettling viewing experience.

• The film's exploration of themes like disease transmission and sexual anxiety was ahead of its time and remains potent.

• While graphic and sometimes crude, 'Rabid' is a notable early work that showcases the director's unique vision.

Google audience: Google users generally found 'Rabid' to be a disturbing and graphic horror film, with many appreciating its cult status and early Cronenberg style. Some found the plot a bit thin and the special effects dated, but the overall sentiment leans towards it being a memorable, albeit unpleasant, genre piece.

The iconic 'mouth' appendage that emerges from Rose's armpit was a prosthetic device designed to resemble a penis, symbolizing the film's themes of repressed sexuality and disease.