FilmArcade.net: "Jessicka Rabid" Review

Jessicka Rabid
Year: 2009
Director: Matthew Reel
Studio: Plan 9 Entertainment
Stars: Elske McCain, Trent Haaga, Jeff Sisson
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 78 Mins.
Official Website: http://www.jessickarabid.com/

“Jessicka Rabid” is a film that I have been looking forward to for a while now, but never getting around to it due to the stack of films that I currently have at home that are waiting for review. My interest for this film, came about after seeing up and coming scream queen Elske McCain in “Gimme Skelter” and “Splatter Movie: The Director’s Cut” Her presence in both of those films were entertaining. Now she stars, as the title character, “Jessicka Rabid”.

The film is about a family that lives in secrecy and does some of the most horrible things that you can thing of. In the mist of this, there lies a woman named Jessicka (Elske McCain). She’s a woman, who has been physically and mentally abused by her family and neighbors. This has made her reduced to something less than human. Now, she’s out for revenge, as she is looking to get back at those, who have done horrible things to her and inflict pain and suffering. The film also stars Trent Haaga (Splatter Disco)

“Jessicka Rabid” is a dark and disturbing film that captures the essence of grindhouse cinema. Writer/director Matthew Reel directs this film in a way that it’s different from films you’ve seen before. He shoots this film, like it was shot during the grindhouse heyday, with the grainy picture quality and the bizarre subject matter that makes you not want to take your eyes off of the screen. He also does a good job with the way he presents his story, as I liked how he fades in and out of scenes. The transition helps add to the weirdness of the film. Reel also does a very good job directing his actors, especially with Elske McCain. She really makes her character very mentally disturbed and shocking. The performance really adds to the horrific nature of the film, as she put alot of effort into this role.

Matthew Reel’s screenplay is very dark and exploitive. The reason the screenplay was that way is that he wanted to focus on the mental and physical state of the title character. Reel does that in a way that it examines what happens when some is abused like the way that the main character was in the film. He makes the abuse so horrifying that when she snaps; the violence becomes brutal and hard to watch. It’s a very brutal horror film. Another thing that Reel does very well is to add a sense of bizarre subject matter to the screenplay. At times, this film felt like a John Walter’s film with storylines that were put there, to shock the viewer. Reel wrote those subplots very well, as it felt very dark and weird. Those things are usually done in films like this to keep the viewer glued to the screen. It worked, as I was horrified with what was going on. This is definitely one of those films, where you can say that it’s not for the weak at heart.

This was a very shocking and effective grindhouse film that keeps your interest to the end, along with a very good performance from Elske McCain. “Jessicka Rabid” is a send off to the glory days of grindhouse, as the subject matter will shock you.

The film will be available on September 1st. You can pre-order a copy on the film’s official website at: http://www.jessickarabid.com/