Bloodtype Online
For the best of the Horror/Cult/Exploitation film experience
Kidnapped (aka Rabid Dogs) (1974)
Personally one of the most interesting directors in the history of horror/exploitation cinema has to be Mario Bava. He's known for making "gothic" horror films in the 60's and is generally credited for giving birth to the "slasher" film. His film Twitch of the Death Nerve (aka Bay of Blood) is usually cited as a source for many of the kills in the first two Friday the 13th films as well. But the film I'd like to talk about now is his 1974 masterpiece Kidnapped (also known as Rabid Dogs). Kidnapped is not only an excellent film, but it's one that happens to have a pretty interesting story to it. See when the film was being made, the films main financier was killed. With that his entire estate (Print of Kidnapped included) was seized by the Italian court system. What makes that so special you ask? Easy, the print of the movie was locked away and unavailable for nearly 23 years. So finally with that all being said, Anchor Bay now known as Starz Home Entertainment brings the DVD home with two versions of the film. Rabid Dogs 96 minute run time complete with a redone credit sequence at the beginning of the film. Also included is the 95 minute version of Kidnapped.
Kidnapped is the story of three criminals in Doctor (Maurice Poli), 32 (George Eastman), and the knife wielding Bisturi (Dan Backy) who get involved in a robbery that happens to get fouled up. When things start going haywire the group has no choice to pull out all of the stops to getaway. They get into a shootout with the cops, kill an innocent women, and even take another woman hostage. When push comes to shove during the police chase the three criminals have no choice to escape on foot when their car is destroyed. At this point in the movie their take their hostage, and get into a car with a man and a young child. The father basically tells them that the child is sick and he was on the way to taking them to a hospital. The criminals will have none of that therefore making this film the exploitative masterpiece that it is. That and the fact that kidnapped has one of the greatest climaxes to a movie I've ever seen. This one pays off big-time and will have this movie racing in your head for days after you've seen it. I can't even tell you how much I enjoyed this movie as it's one of the greatest pieces of it's kind that I've ever seen. It's like nothing else Mario Bava has done in his career and it's something that makes his resume even more impressive in my opinion.
The technical aspects of the film are extremely impressive as well. Bava is a master at using stylistic camera shots and there is one scene in particular that is enhanced by his mastery alone. There's no doubt that Bava gets little credit for being able to build suspense in his films (which I think he does incredibly well), and there is that and lots more here. Most of the film takes place in the car while the group is driving and the movie manages to stay entertaining, and never goes away from that. The feeling of paranoia and claustrophobia aren't just effective, but they really take the oxygen out of you as the viewer. The character development is transcendent and refreshing. It really adds to the film and it makes it that much more of a
viewing experience. Also the one thing that really shocked me about the film is how unrelenting it is at times. What it comes down to is I don't know if there is a more "mean spirited" effort in Bava's illustrious career.
Overall I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND Kidnapped to any fan out there who wants to see a exceptional film that is bound to stay with you for a long time. It's totally worth the purchase and is a great companion with the newly released Bava box set. If you haven't seen this one and you're a fan of Italian cinema, this is something you'll want to put on you list of movies to pick up for sure.
Rating - ****
-Ed Demko
