The Rabid Dog’s House is a recurring feature at Wicked Horror where contributor Justin Steele uncovers hidden gems, lost classics, and overlooked indie offerings with a little bite. Flying solo or with his co-host Zena Dixon, he will discuss an array of topics covering film, literature, and television. Check out the latest installment below. In this episode we’re looking back at 1982’s Silent Rage!
Silent Rage is directed by Michael Miller and stars Chuck Norris, Toni Kalem, Ron Silver, Steven Keats, and Brian Libby. Sherriff Dan Stevens (Norris) is called to the scene of a gruesome crime committed by mentally ill man John Kirby (Libby). After being shot, John Kirby is transported to a local high-tech institute where his psychiatrist, Tom (Silver), works alongside geneticists hoping to create an invincible human being. Believing they have nothing to lose, the doctors make the unfortunate decision to test their new formula on John Kirby. Meanwhile, Sherrif Dan is romancing Tom’s sister Alison (Kalem) when their weekend plans are soon terminated as the formula worked too well, and the now indestructible yet homicidal John Kirby is on a murderous rampage to take revenge on all that have wronged him.
Related: Fall into Darkness Lands Strong with ’90s Thrills [The Rabid Dog’s House]
Silent Rage is a unique entry in the catalogue of 1980s slashers. A strange but effective balance of over-the-top acting, Chuck Norris martial arts, and the early 80s style of horror flicks all in one film. The borderline between exploitation films and the popular slasher flicks of the time is blurred in order to create a surprisingly effective horror movie.
