Chapter 2: The First Hebrew Horror: Rabies
Rabies (2010), the debut feature by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado, has been heralded as the first Israeli horror film. The truth is, Rabies straddles horror and comedy, with plenty of winks for genre lovers. The film opens on a group of friends driving to a tennis match only to be lost in the woods, where a serial killer is on the prowl. Sounds familiar? Not in Israel, where there are neither forests nor serial killers. Indeed, even if Rabies comes with all the trappings of a slasher, it quickly subverts the form to land in the entirely new territory.
Questions for discussion
- Which horror tropes and conventions can you identify in Rabies? Which films does it remind you of?
- What characterizes Rabies as an Israeli film? You may think of the plot, themes, or settings.
- What is the relationship between the local Israeli characteristics and the global horror tropes in Rabies?
- What was the production history of Rabies? How did it impact the film?
- What was its audience and critical reception?
Availability
Streaming on Tubi, Vudu, Apple TV, and Amazon