Certain filmmakers use the medium as a flimsy excuse to indulge their particular fetishistic fantasies and indulgences with the Soska sisters as prime examples. Several of theirs are on prominent display in this utterly unnecessary remake of David Croenberg’s 1977 film. The original premise from the film holds up decently, while the lead actress does a serviceable job, but there’s little else to appreciate here. The major beats from the original film are present, but in addition the Soskas layer atop satire on the fashion industry and ham-fisted aesops about the ‘price of fame’. Unfortunately, the acting is bad, the delivery poor, and the script borderline soporific. Nothing original, nothing noteworthy, nothing remotely memorable save for one particular scene of unintended hilarity and plenty of gore. There are excellent practical effects, effectively rendering grotesque and horrific visuals of face-ripping, biting, piercing carnage. There is a lot of ambition for the last act that is obviously not within the scope of a severely limited budget. There is something to be said for filmmakers that can actually deliver a decent looking (albeit gruesome) production on a minuscule budget, but as a remake of a greater work by a film maestro this title deserves far better.
Rabid