The New York Ripper

The New York Ripper (Lo Squartadore Di New York) (1982)

Runtime: 93 minutes

Directed by: Lucio Fulci

Starring: Jack Hedley, Almanta Suska, Howard Ross, Andrea Occhipinti, Alexandra Delli Colli

From: Fulvia Film

Why exactly was Fucli preoccupied with Donald Duck?

September and October, I'll be watching plenty of horror films during “Hooptober” season, although I never officially participate in that. As of now there's little idea as to what will be on that list; there will be no shortage of possible entries so between now and then will also be some genre efforts, including (in)famous ones like this. It's a giallo/slasher (the former genre was a huge influence on the latter) which has plenty of gore for the slasher fans that dig such things; who knows what they-or anyone else-will think of a killer that talks like Donald Duck during taunting phone calls to the police or when he's killing young women! A bizarre quirk, even if there's an explanation for it—believe it or not.

A serial killer is targeting promiscuous women in New York City and attempting to stop this person is both a wearied older cop (who is happy to pay for the services of prostitutes!) and a younger college professor psychoanalyst; that's the basics, although there's also additional youths in a smart couple who are targeted. Now, The New York Ripper wallows in sleaze: besides the villain butchering young women in graphic detail, there are the shots of Times Square before it was cleaned up (The Crappy New York City of Old, I like to call it), a sex show is visited, another lady is not satisfied at home so places like this is where she gets her kicks at, one character randomly buys a Blueboy magazine but this has no bearing on anything and instead this person liking gay pornography was supposed to be “shocking” or “funny” or something else, I dunno...

Even though the Donald Duck thing is kind of...daffy—the movie is still effective for what it is. It has the blood for slasher fans, graphic moments, and even a few scenes of suspense as someone is being chased/hiding from someone. Unless you're offended by some aspect of this-which I won't fault you for-this was a pretty good time. As stated before, I prefer straightforward Fulci like this or Zombie (or Zombie Flesh Eaters or Zombi 2 or the dozen other titles it is known by) to something like The Beyond. It'd be a great double bill w/ the Joe Spinell Maniac; both are trashy NYC pictures which at least are well-made.