Jessicka Rabid (2010)

Creativity is alive and well in American cinema!


Jessicka Rabid (2010)
Directed By: Matthew Reel
Where to get it: CAV




The Prologue
I will admit, I didn't know much of anything about director, Matthew Reel going into this film. I've never seen any of his short films, but going by the titles they at least sound interesting. But when I received, Jessicka Rabid in the mail and saw the trusty ol' Troma label on it, I'll admit, I got a little excited. Of course that unknown aspect of what I was getting myself into was still there. I love Troma, but I have to admit (being honest here) that sometimes it's a bit of a mixed bag with them. But after reading the back of the case and seeing some details about Jessicka Rabid, I just decided that the film sounded a little too interesting to hold off on watching. And now I am very happy that I did toss it in front of the "to watch" movie pile I have. 



The Movie
The story is about a girl named Jessicka. She lives with family, but this family is VERY close if you know what I mean. Even worse, Jessicka is either mentally ill herself, or very "special", one of the two. So what does these people do with her? They keep her as if she was the family pet. Keeping her in cages, placing collars around her neck, pimping her out, and even using her for sick incest driven SEX (was this film taking place in Alabama?)! One day, Jessicka is bitten however. And she then slowly starts to show signs of becoming sick from this bite. If you think that's bad news for her, it's even worse for the people who have been abusing her.

You have GOT to give credit to everyone involved in this movie. From very good acting to the very cool and stylish look of the film, this is top notch stuff for what it is. And it's even more impressive when you add in the fact it is a low budget film. What you end up with here is classic grindhouse style movie making at it's ugly best..And trust me folks, that is a complement. It's easy to get caught up in this one from the start of it and due to the great acting from Elske McCain, who really brings the character of Jessicka to life on screen. The film also has Trent Haaga in it. And I've said it more than once, I'm a really big fan of his. He's a good writer, producer, and also a awesome actor. He's yet to disappoint me in anything I've seen him in.


Jessicka, may be a bit of an anti-hero, as far as this film goes. You may never have thought you'd find yourself rooting for an odd, almost animal like, retard. But it happens as the film dives into it's setting, surrounds, and shows you just what this poor girl is having to deal with. The family around her is scum, their friend's are scum, and even the neighbors appear to be no better. It's not a pretty environment at all, but this film wouldn't have worked soo well had it been anything other than what we get. The whole thing makes for a very odd and uncomfortable atmosphere for the film, but that's a good thing. If you are a fan of lower budget films, I think you'll be a BIG fan of this one.

A film like this on it's surface may not be for everyone. Then again, who know? Sure, you may have those people out there who'd never get the throwback look and feel of the movie, but it packs elements that I think anyone who loves weird and interesting movies could enjoy. We've got perversion, we got blood, and we got an awesome plot. I love stuff like this because it's nothing short of genius, in a creative sense. It is held back by some budget restraints, but it makes very good with what it has. And the result is a fun film that draws you in as it goes along, and is very re-watchable at that. Do I kinda wish there was even more blood? Yeah, sure I do. But I like what we get and can understand why it's not loaded more with it. Still, I can't find a whole lot to complain about out side of that.


The Conclusion
Take my word for it, guys. This film is way more entertaining than even I assumed it would be going into it. And I gotta give a lot of props to Troma for bringing this one to us. It's probably the best thing I've seen under the Troma banner since Poultrygeist. So if you want to take a chance on any film, go with this old school-ish one right here. You may be surprised at how much you like it.


The Rating (7/10)