Rabid (2019): Cast, Ratings, Plot & Where to Watch
Rabid is a 2019 sci-fi horror film directed by Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska, starring Laura Vandervoort as Rose, Ted Atherton and Mackenzie Gray. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and was made on a reported $5 million budget. Critics gave it 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Cineverse, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 47m (107 min)
- Directors
- Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska
- Original language
-
Tagalog
- Studio
- Shout! Factory
- Budget
- $5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Rabid About?
The premise of Rabid without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Rose leads a quiet life until a traumatic accident leaves her physically disfigured. Desperate for a solution, she undergoes experimental stem cell treatment, which dramatically alters her appearance. The procedure transforms her from an ordinary woman into a captivating figure in the fashion world. However, Rose soon discovers that achieving such a dramatic transformation comes at a terrible and unforeseen price, forcing her to confront the dark side of her newfound perfection.
Rabid Themes & Keywords
· 47 tags- remake
- bloodlust
- transhumanism
- medical experiment
- mad scientist
- crash survivor
- blonde woman
- fashion designer
- fashion photographer
- rabies
- amnesia
- immortality
+35 more Show fewer
- skin graft
- stem cell
- tentacle
- pandemic
- david cronenberg
- vampiric
- vampire
- one word title
- body horror
- biopunk
- runway fashion show
- vegetarian women
- snorting cocaine
- bare chested male
- soap opera star
- television show within a film
- chaotic film set
- kiss becomes bite
- blood soaked
- pool of blood
- one breast exposed
- male rear nudity
- horrific hallucination
- virus
- monster
- cutting one's own throat
- attempted suicide
- open faced helmet injury
- motorcycle injury
- real twins playing twins
- fashion industry
- stem cell treatment
- psychotronic film
- zombie
- title directed by female
Where to Watch Rabid
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Cineverse, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 12
Rabid Cast & Characters
Laura Vandervoort leads the cast as Rose, with Ted Atherton as Dr. William Burroughs and Mackenzie Gray as Gunter. Directed by Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Co-director Jen Soska - Co-director Sylvia Soska
- Laura Vandervoort as Rose
- Ted Atherton as Dr. William Burroughs
- Mackenzie Gray as Gunter
- Hanneke Talbot as Chelsea
Also Starring in Rabid
· 6 more- Ben Hollingsworth
- Stephen McHattie Dr. Keloid
- Kevin Hanchard Dr. Riley
- Stephen Huszar Dominic
- Heidi von Palleske Dr. Elliot
- Joel Labelle Trent Taylor
Rabid Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Rabid 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in story & flow (40).
Rabid Echo Score Breakdown
Rabid delivers an uneven horror remake that mixes promising ambition with inconsistent execution. Critics often note the film’s engaging premise and moments of effective body horror, while also pointing to its overlong runtime, sporadic pacing, and underdeveloped narrative threads. Multiple performers, particularly the lead, earn recognition for elevating the material despite a script that struggles to sustain momentum. In net effect, the film’s strengths in atmosphere and practical effects are weighed down by its uneven storytelling and tonal indecision.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 45
In terms of art and craft, Rabid presents a mixed execution of its visual and technical elements. The practical makeup and gore effects are frequently noted for their detailed design, yet the editing and pacing often feel cumbersome and uneven. Direction occasionally provides energizing genre moments, but inconsistent construction and sporadic cinematography detract from its overall technical cohesion.
- Character & Emotion 55
When it comes to character and emotion, performances in Rabid are a notable highlight despite mixed depth. The lead portrayal is often praised for bringing nuance to Rose’s transformation, and supporting roles deliver solid moments of tension. However, some critics point to a lack of deeper emotional resonance and occasionally shallow character development overall.
- Story & Flow 40
In terms of story and flow, Rabid struggles with uneven pacing and underdeveloped narrative arcs. Early ideas generate intrigue, but the plot’s expansion falters in the third act, leading to an indecisive tone. Critics note promising premises that never fully mature, resulting in a narrative that lacks cohesion and fails to sustain engagement throughout.
- Sensory Experience 60
When it comes to sensory experience, Rabid offers striking gore and practical effects that establish a potent body-horror atmosphere. The sound design and score enhance tense moments, though occasional cheese in special effects undermines immersion. Visual style alternates between subtle undertones and overt gore, creating a mixed but occasionally compelling sensory presentation.
- Rewatch Factor 45
In terms of rewatch factor, Rabid presents limited replay value due to its inconsistent narrative and tonal shifts. While practical effects and standout lead performances may appeal on repeat viewings for genre enthusiasts, most audiences may find the uneven pacing and unresolved storylines reduce the desire to revisit the film outside of dedicated horror-viewer circles.
-
IMDb 5.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 55% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 31%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 43 Metascore
User score 5.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.6 /5
1 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 5.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Rabid Plot Summary
What happens in Rabid from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Rose, Laura Vandervoort a young fashion designer, suffers a disfiguring accident and undergoes an experimental stem cell skin and tissue graft performed by Ted Atherton as Dr. William Burroughs. The procedure triggers an unforeseen reaction: a parasite forms under her skin and a rabies-like syndrome causes victims to transform within minutes to hours after contact. As chaos unfolds, Rose ends up attacking several people, and the outbreak begins to ripple through the city.
Meanwhile, Gunter, Mackenzie Gray, the fashion designer, decides that Chelsea, Rose’s best friend and a fashion model, will launch Rose’s first exhibition, giving the project a sharp, public spotlight. Brad, Ben Hollingsworth, a fashion photographer who formerly dated Rose, reenters her life, drawn back into the orbit of the designer’s perilous transformation.
Full summary
The whole story of Rabid, scene by scene
Rabid Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Rabid.
How Well Do You Know Rabid?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Rose's profession in the film?
Cars in Rabid
11 cars on screen, including the Chevrolet unknown and the 1967 Ford Mustang.
-
Chevrolet unknown Minor role -
1967 Ford Mustang Minor role -
Kymco Bet & Win Minor role -
1959 Chevrolet Bel Air Background role
Rabid Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “래비드” and “Besnilo”.
- Also known as
-
- 래비드
- Besnilo
- Скажена
- Бешеная
- Fúria
- 라비드
- 狂犬病
- 屍控療法
- Wściekłość
- Pasiutusi
- Furia
- Veszett
Seen Rabid?
Movies Like Rabid
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Rabid, Rose: A Love Story and Primal Rage.
Rabid FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Rabid, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Rabid?
Rabid runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).
When was Rabid released?
Rabid was released on December 13, 2019.
Who directed Rabid?
Rabid was directed by Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska.
More films by Jen Soska Who is in the cast of Rabid?
Rabid stars Laura Vandervoort as Rose, Ted Atherton as Dr. William Burroughs and Mackenzie Gray as Gunter, among 10 credited actors.
Where can I watch Rabid?
In the US, Rabid is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Cineverse and Fandango at Home Free and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
What was the budget of Rabid?
Rabid had a reported budget of $5 million.
How is Rabid rated?
Rabid has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, 43 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Does Rabid have a post-credit scene?
No. Rabid has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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