Mario Bava's RABID DOGS

This is a wonderful DVD from the folks who restored it in the 1990s. An excellent-transfer, great sound, and some wonderful goodies! Originally-released in a limited-run in 1998, it is available again for the true Bava-cultists (like me). You cannot go-wrong with this DVD, the reconstruction is spot-on. The score is one of the best in Italian-cinema, and it makes "Last House on the Left" seem a little-tame. Mario Bava shows us why he made all of his other horrors--life in Italy during his film-run (50s-70s) was rife with political and criminal-violence. Enjoy! This is the real-deal.

I'll admit that I've never seen films by Mario Bava. I've only recently gotten into Italian Cinema with the films of Dario Argento and other Giallo taken up my interest. Until now I had never tried any Bava. So hearing of this film and being intrigued with the premise I picked up the DVD.
The premise of the film is four criminals rob a pharmaceutical companies payroll during which the getaway driver is killed. The three remaining killers flee to a parking lot taking hostages, one of which they kill in order to escape. Afterwards in order not to be spotted by police in a familiar car they pull off and take more hostages this time a middle aged man and a sick child. At this point the films been a violent crime film. When it gets in the car the film is basically centered on the drive of the criminals and their hostages. Whats good in the film despite minor flaws is that even in its form (neither Rabid Dogs or the re-edited Kidnapped was completed with Bava's support due to circumstances which earned its "lost" status until recently) its a really well assembled suspense thriller building its tension slowly. As tensions in the car rise and victims plead for their lives even the criminals begin to turn against each other. One wants to rape the woman hostage, while another goes along with what ever happens while the leader is more concerned with just getting to their destination. There are moments in the film that to me were great in a transgressive way that newer films couldn't even come close to topping. And in the end, I don't want to ruin it but if you get into the plot as much I did it will definitely suprise you. I was totally blown away by the film. One thing also is the feeling of anger that seeps from every frame. This is a brutal film to watch at times with its portrayl of a world that is vain arrogant and rather brutal in considering the plight of the hostages (especially the child). To me its a film that in tone could almost compare to one of my favorites, Kurosawa's Ran.
Unfortunately I've only viewed the Rabid Dogs cut on the new Anchor Bay disc. It also contains Lamberto Bava's edit Kidnapped more in line with his fathers intentions which I will watch in the future but was turned off for the synthesizer score (I just love the harpsichord and organs blaring in Rabid Dogs even though admittedly the score is incesant) and didn't want to watch the film so soon after seeing it. Still this a definite recommend from me, worth viewing.

Note; this US Anchor Bay DVD has two alternate cuts, one finished by
Bava's son, called 'Kidnapped'. But almost all Bava fans and
professional critics prefer the rougher edged, less polished original
;'Rabid Dogs', so that's what I watched.

--vague possible mild spoilers ahead --

It's a film that is saved by the rare truly successful twist ending,
that changes everything you thought you saw. The acting is less than
great, and the film has a definite misogynistic tone (although everyone
in it is pretty awful on the humanity scale).

On the other hand, there's effectively high tension, as 3 murderous
robbers take two innocent people and a baby hostage. Especially
impressive that it never gets talky or visually dull, despite taking
place almost entirely inside a car.

But the over-acting and clunky dubbing (and writing) really hurt. Then
the end came and I was suddenly ready to forgive a lot.