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[Review] ‘Rabid Dogs’ is a Worthy Remake of Bava’s 1974 Cult Classic

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It was supposed to be a simple bank job. In the bank, grab the cash, control the crowd, out of the bank, and into the getaway car. Up until they left the building, everything was running smoothly, and it appeared that this group of thieves may actually pull off the heist without a hitch. However, once they crossed the threshold and stepped out into the light, a rogue member of the group panicked upon the arrival of police, and gunned down two officers who threatened to block his escape.

Now, with their charges heightened from robbers to murderers, and their perfectly organized plans gone askew, they’re forced to improvise, which means that they need hostages. Backed into a corner after a deadly car chase, they grab the first victims they can find to protect them from harm on their way out of town. A young woman and a middle aged man with a sick daughter will do, as they seem the least likely to defend themselves, but as the six of them begin their claustrophobic car ride away from the scene, these criminals will learn that they aren’t the only ones who can’t be trusted.

A remake of Mario Bava’s 1974 nihilistic crime thriller Rabid Dogs, a.k.a. Kidnapped, writer/director Eric Hannezo moves the story from Italy to France, providing an impressive, polished take on Bava’s gritty pessimistic classic, and helping bring attention to the original film that almost didn’t see the light of day. Although Bava’s Rabid Dogs was finished in 1974, it was seized by the courts after one of the main financiers died in a car crash, and the film lacked the funds necessary for completion and release.

After floating around in limbo for over twenty years, the film was finally released in 1998 on DVD, although it went through a few different edits according to Bava’s notes, creating multiple versions of the film which don’t all display Bava’s original vision. However, director Hannezo maintains a close adaptation with roots deeply imbedded in Bava’s brutal roots, captured in a style all his own that’s slick, confident, and classy.

A bleak look at the world, Hannezo’s Rabid Dogs offers little in the way of hope. With the majority of the film taking place inside of the car, the cramped conditions and constant threat of being outed makes the whole film feel on edge, and gives the viewers that sense that they, too, are tripped within the confines of this automobile.

Strapped in for the entirety of the ride and forced to watch helplessly as opportunities for freedom come and go, tension permeates the entire feature, giving a feeling of suffocation as relentless as the thugs controlling the car. Few films achieve this level of heightened desperation, and the impact is a testament to the power of the raw performances by the talented cast, the growing intensity of the highly stylized score, and the energetic pacing that brings with it a sense of urgency that’s stubbornly denied by the men with guns who refuse to let the audience go.

Finally, in the big finale, after the all of the elements have slowly been brought to a raging boil, the climax duels out a shocking blow and delivers a gut punch of an ending. For all of those who were fans of Bava’s original, know that the remake has been placed in good hands. This film pays homage to the predecessor, while also providing a new, tighter light, giving a delicate balance to both worlds and still bringing the same potency to the screen. For those who have never seen the original, hopefully this will inspire people to do so, and to take a chance on a lesser known director, who clearly deserves the attention that this heart-pounding thriller, with any luck, will bring.

Indie

“Bite Size Short: Her House of Horrors” Announce Short Grant Program!

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Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.

The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:

“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.

“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.

“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.

“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”

Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.

WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.

To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.

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