Rabid Dogs 2016

As the foursome of fugitives - Doc (Maurice Poli), Blade (Aldo Caponi), and Thirty-Two (Luigi Montefiori) - make their desperate bid to escape the law’s pursuit, their initial momentum is swiftly dampened by a series of mishaps. The getaway car, already compromised after the botched robbery, suffers further damage during a high-speed chase, forcing the trio to abandon it and flee on foot into an underground parking garage. With the authorities hot on their heels, they take Maria (Lea Lander), one of their hostages, as leverage, and use her as a human shield to intimidate the police. When Blade’s careless trigger finger claims another life, the officers, sensing Maria’s peril, momentarily retreat, allowing the criminals to make off with her car.

As they flee the city, Doc remains keenly aware that the authorities will soon have a detailed description of their new ride, courtesy of the earlier hijacked vehicle. It’s only logical then that they would need to acquire another set of wheels to maintain their head start. Their latest victim, Riccardo (Riccardo Cucciolla), protests the sudden change in plans, citing his pressing need to deliver his comatose son to the hospital. Doc and company, however, are not ones to be swayed by sentiment or compassion, and they forcefully commandeer Riccardo’s vehicle, setting a course for their hideout.

As Maria struggles to contain her growing anxiety, Blade and Thirty-Two take turns taunting her with unsettling advances. Doc, ever the voice of reason, must intervene to prevent things from escalating into something truly sinister. The tension simmers beneath the surface as they navigate through the city streets, finally arriving at a construction site where the blistering heat forces them to roll down their windows. This brief respite is short-lived, as Maria’s repeated attempts to assert her autonomy are met with brutal suppression.

The situation comes to a head when Maria requests a pit stop to answer nature’s call, only to try and make a break for it. Blade and Thirty-Two hotly pursue her, eventually recapturing her at an abandoned farmhouse, where they exact a humiliating punishment by forcing her to relieve herself in public view. Later, as Riccardo asks if he can stop for some sustenance, Thirty-Two sees fit to indulge in a flask of scotch, while the others settle for more mundane refreshments. When a passerby recognizes Riccardo, he attempts to deflect suspicion with a flimsy alibi about a picnic.

The expressway provides the setting for their next debacle, as Thirty-Two’s increasing intoxication prompts reckless behavior that attracts unwanted attention from fellow motorists. Doc and Blade struggle to regain control of their unruly comrade, but it’s too late - Thirty-Two makes a futile attempt to assault Maria, prompting Doc to take decisive action and silence him with a bullet. The wound is not fatal, but the blow to Thirty-Two’s ego and mobility is severe. As the group continues on its odyssey of chaos and despair, Blade’s initial unease slowly gives way to acceptance of the harsh reality that sometimes, extreme measures are necessary to survive in a world beset by danger and uncertainty.

As Riccardo insists that they replenish their fuel, an attendant (Francesco Ferrini) at the first available gas station presents a peculiar predicament. He’s taking a break and unwilling to assist them for the next 20 minutes, much to Doc’s growing frustration. The situation escalates when Blade attempts to intimidate the attendant, who reveals he was a victim of robbery in the past and won’t be easily swayed. Maria is forced to intervene, requesting the attendant fill their tank so they can reach the hospital with Thirty-Two, whose life hangs precariously in the balance.

The attendant finally relents, but not before a young woman (Eriak Dario) appears, claiming her car has broken down and she requires assistance. She persistently pressures Doc into offering her a ride to the next town, unaware of the dark reality unfolding around her. As the group embarks on this impromptu journey, Thirty-Two’s hand, bearing gruesome signs of violence, becomes visible through the side door window. The attendant’s gaze lingers on this unsettling sight, while the young woman remains oblivious.

The hitchhiker, another Maria, proves to be a constant and annoying presence, completely unaware of the perilous situation she has unwittingly joined. Her carefree chatter grates on everyone’s nerves until she inadvertently exposes Thirty-Two’s bullet-riddled body, prompting Blade to take drastic action. Doc orders Riccardo to pull over so they can dispose of her corpse, while simultaneously tending to Thirty-Two, who is mortally wounded.

As the group approaches their hideout – a ruined villa where Doc has stored a backup vehicle and emigration papers – Riccardo and Maria share a moment of hope. However, this fleeting optimism is swiftly extinguished when Doc reveals his sinister plan: he intends to eliminate them both to ensure his own escape. Riccardo implores Doc to spare the child’s life, but the cold-blooded killer refuses, ordering him to remove the boy from the car.

Seizing an opportunity, Riccardo conceals a gun in the child’s blanket and shoots both Doc and Blade, who returns fire, killing Maria before succumbing to his wounds. With the getaway car now sporting flat tires, Riccardo transfers the sedated child to Doc’s vehicle, claims the stolen money, and departs.

In a stunning twist, it is revealed that Riccardo has been harboring a dark secret: he is a criminal who kidnapped the child and is now demanding a ransom of six million lire from the child’s mother. As Riccardo drives away in his new car, containing the child in its trunk, the true extent of his depravity becomes clear.