A Disappointing Continuation

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

JESSIKA RABID is an absolute travesty of a movie put out by Troma. Even by Troma standards this is a cheap and grubby affair, totally worthless as a proper movie and entirely lacking in decent film-making standards. The story is about a girl kept captive by a couple of rednecks and the various degradations which she undergoes.There's nudity, rape, and violence here, but the whole thing is so badly shot throughout that you won't care. JESSIKA RABID is a film that manages to make just about every mistake that it's possible for a zero budget filmmaker to make and as a result it's a complete waste of time and effort.

Mean Marley Hoffman (an excellent performance by Trent Haaga) and his equally brutish brother Brad Hoffman (a sturdy portrayal by Jeff Sisson) are a couple of vile white trash degenerates who treat their mute mentally stunted cousin Jessicka (well played with remarkable conviction by hot voluptuous brunette Elske McCain, who brings a truly touching child-like innocence and fragility to her role) like a combination pet and sex slave: They not only make her wear a collar, force her to eat dog food, take her out for walks on a leash, and even occasionally lock her up in a dog cage, but also have sex with her and lend her out to local porn filmmakers for extra cash. However, things go horribly awry when Jessicka contracts rabies after being bitten by a dog. Writer/director Matthew Reel astutely pegs the raw, grimy, and seedy aesthetic of vintage 70's grindhouse fare, grounds the sordid premise in a totally believable drab workaday reality, and maintains an appropriately tough, grim, and uncompromisingly harsh tone from start to finish. Moreover, Reel certainly doesn't skimp on the expected rough stuff: We've got rape, incest, tasty female nudity, lesbianism, depravity, and a savage last reel killing spree that really lays on the ghastly graphic gore, with a juicy decapitation and a nasty castration rating as definite gag-inducing hideous splatter highlights. The pervasively nihilistic sensibility gives the picture an extra potent and unsettling kick. Kudos are also in order for the top-rate acting by the three leads, with always reliable indie feature regular Haaga a particular stand-out throughout. Cisiany Olivar likewise impresses as Marley's blithely decadent sister Abby. The deliberately ratty cinematography vividly captures the grungy look and vibe of a 70's exploitation flick. Mario Salvucci's jangly score does the unnerving trick. Good scuzzy filth.

I was looking forward to this movie. It sounds crazy, some hillbillies have got a mute sister Jessicka (of the title) that they treat like a dog. They cage her up they make her eat dog food and take her out for a walk on a lead. When they're not doing this the two brothers and sister (or cousins I wasn't quite sure) are usually enjoying some form of incest. The problem is the idea is crazy but the execution is so boring. Aside from some full frontal nudity you don't really see anything. This movie just wimps out at every turn. There is one scene where they take the mute outside to have a pee. In the extras on the disc you can tell she is actually urinating in the scene but you can't see it at all. None of the incest scenes show anything. When eventually the film turns nasty because Jessicka got bitten by a dog that had rabies, well I guess thats what happens because one of the hillbillies says they put the dog down because it was acting weird but again you don't see it. In the last 10 to 20 minutes of the film Jessicka does get some revenge but the violence is pretty tame.There are some attempts at humor throughout but it's just juvenile and embarrassing. I almost forgot the awesome scene where Jessicka's sister takes her to a party. First she dresses her up like a goth for some reason. I guess because it looks creepy when goths foam at the mouth because they've got rabies. This wicked party consists of some footage of some crap band who must be friends with someone involved in the movie just practicing in a garage, some party eh.On the plus side the film does have quite a nice old school grainy look to it. But even that is spoilt by some really poor editing and sound. The odd choice of randomly inserting some old school drive in adds doesn't quite work either. Overall this is a very clunky film I could see what they were going for theme wise but they didn't quite make it. If you have watched this and like it check out Blood Junkie it's better and funny too.

Jessicka Rabid will most likely be my last awesome B-Horror discovery of 2011. And what a way to end the year. This movie's about a bunch of incestuous, white trash cousins, all shackin' up together, with the half-retarded mute (?), Jessica as their neglected pet. At first, it seems as if she's a victim, being held there against her will, but they take her places, sometimes, and sorta acknowledge her as a member of the family.Yet, there's also the parts where they cage her up, simply cuz it's more convenient. Now that I think about it, she's definitely a victim, too, considering all the rapings and beatings. I mean they hose her down, from time to time, & they give her plenty of dogfood & whatnot, so, it's not like she's got it THAT bad. But being that Jessica's too slow to know good treatment from bad, she's oblivious to any treatment that might not be considered favorable. But ain't it funny how a little rabies can change everything? I gotta tell ya, I haven't been even remotely excited by anything Troma's come out with in forever. They done good, this time. I found every second of this movie to be beyond entertaining. The first thing I noticed was the quality of the film. The movie is shot grainy, fuzzy, purposefully out of focus in parts. It's got the old school look down, perfect. Which compliments the tone of the movie more than I can express.Jessicka Rabid is as good of a modern old school B-Horror throwback as I've seen. Not a lot of the circumstances are explained, and the movie never tries too hard to be something special. And in doing so, it actually succeeds in being quite special. This is a mean-spirited film, with little to no retribution in sight. With just enough subtle dark humor thrown in to make it enjoyable. Not to mention, plenty of gore, depravity & incest to go around. Starring the legendary Trent Haaga. So, any Haaga freaks will definitely be diggin' this one. And keep in mind, sometimes Troma manages to come through. And this is absolutely one of those times. So, do yourself a favor and check this little beauty out. You won't regret it, friend. 8/10