The conversation at the video store went something like this:
Video Store lady: "What about Martha Marcy May Marlene?"
Me: "Already saw it."
Her: "Hmmm...My Week with Marilyn?"
Me: "Saw that, too. I didn't like it, though Michelle Williams was awesome."
Her: "Melancholia?"
Me: "I don't do Lars von Trier movies."
Her: "You're into horror movies, right?"
Me (unsure of where this is going): "Um...yeesss..."
Her: "What about Rabies? That's that Israeli horror movie."
Me: "Israeli horror movie? Sold, American!"
It's hard to recommend films to me. I'm sure other hardcore movie freaks are the same way. Most of the time, when asked if I'm looking for anything in particular, I'll usually say "Just looking, thanks." This time, though, I actually appreciated the heads up. Rabies (2010, directed by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado) is indeed an Israeli horror movie, though it's one that could use a better international title. Rabid animals and rabid humans do not appear in this film, much less rabid zombies or even rabid grannies. There's no frothing at the mouth whatsoever. So much for truth in advertising. In any case, when recommending movies for me to watch, novelty matters. I've never seen an Israeli horror movie before. I didn't even know they made them.