A71 Entertainment has taken Canadian rights to the Soska sisters’ upcoming remake of David Cronenberg’s Rabid. 

Vancouver-based horror filmmakers Jen and Sylvia Soska (pictured) will direct the film, which is set to go into production in Hamilton in early 2018. The Soska sisters found success in 2012 with American Mary and more recently as hosts of the Blumhouse Productions-produced horror game show Hellevator. The feature is produced by Michael Walker, Paul Lalonde and John Vidette of St. Catharines, ON-based Back 40 Pictures.

The Rabid reboot follows Rose, a demure young woman eager to become a famous fashion designer. After an accident leaves her scarred beyond recognition, she seeks out an untested stem cell treatment that seemingly solves all her problems. The 1977 original followed a young woman who undergoes an experimental plastic surgery and later develops a taste for human blood.

The remake received financing from Telefilm Canada and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

A71 recently partnered with Vortex Words + Pictures on V71, a new Toronto-based joint venture aimed at selling projects to the international market.