Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84800 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-08-24
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 85 minutes

Amazon.com
Italian shock maven Lucio Fulci directed this effort, undoubtedly one of his seediest and most offensive films. A serial killer prowls the streets of New York, preying strictly on women and butchering them in the most sadistic ways (usually starting at the crotch). The cops are always several steps behind the killer, who uses a Donald Duck voice to taunt them (and his prospective victims) over the phone. It's all pretty misogynistic, violent, and brutal, and adds up to an unsavory viewing experience. That said, the plot hangs together fairly well (better than in much of the giallo genre), and Fulci's camera work and editing are topnotch. The director's sense of color and shot composition are in line with much of contemporaries Dario Argento and Mario Bava's work (the color red in particular dominates much of the movie). As with Argento's work, an unassuming woman, caught up in circumstances, turns out to be the film's heroine. Also, it's interesting that both in this film and in Don't Torture a Duckling, Fulci uses Donald Duck as a sort of bizarre totem of shattered innocence and tragedy. Still, Fulci uses his camera here in such a leering, lascivious way that it reinforces the film's oppressive sleaziness and sadism. Fans of Italian horror won't be disappointed with The New York Ripper, but be advised that the movie's overriding unpleasantness makes it an acquired taste at best. --Jerry Renshaw

HorrorDVDs.com
"One Of The Most Controversial Italian Horror Films Ever Made!"

HorrorDVDs.com
"FULCI AT HIS ABSOLUTE MOST BRUTAL... Only Those With The Strongest Tolerance For Violence Will Be Able To Avoid Feeling Uncomfortable!"

Customer Reviews

The Quacking Killer!
When I first read the reviews about "The New York Ripper" it definitely sounded like a movie that the avid gore hound should check out. Well I couldn't find it anywhere. So I decided to buy it.

While I don't believe it is Lucio fulci's best movie I did find it to be pretty good. It is nothing like his other films with zombies and other creatures from the depths of hell. "The New York Ripper" deals with a maniacal psychopath that slices and dices his way through The Big Apple. Of course being a Fulci film you can expect the usual terrible acting and horrible dubbing, which always makes me laugh, and yes the killer quacks like a duck but the killing scenes are in typical Fulci fashion (GORY!) A woman getting gutted, a broken bottle shoved into the forbidden area, a nice straight blade through a helpless victims eyeball and nipple, and an impressive head shot at the end of the film.

You've heard all the other reviews. The film is seedy, it is misogynistic, violent, brutal and there's plenty of T&A to satifsy fans of the flesh. I found it to be well worth adding to my collection. If you haven't seen a Fulci film before may I suggest "Zombie", "The Beyond" or "City of the Living Dead". If you have seen Fulci films before check out "The New York Ripper". All in all not a bad murder mystery.

The Epitome of Sleaze
New York Ripper is, without a doubt, the sleaziest, seediest, most sadistic film I have ever seen, and believe me, I've seen some filth. Most likely, if you're a Fulci fan, this is one you don't want to miss. It captures the essence of Fulci's madness perfectly. Throats are slashed to ribbons, blood spurts and sprays like geysers, eyeballs are sliced, broken bottles are used inappropriately, and I haven't even mentioned the REALLY extreme stuff.

To my surprise, this Fulci feature actually has a coherent plot. Not the most complex or original plot, but a plot nonetheless. Without revealing too much, I can say that the basic structure involves a deranged killer(duh) who mutilates beautiful girls in the clasic giallo style (all we see is the killer's gloved, knife wielding hand)all over New York City. However, the reasoning behind these murders is actually very interesting, if not a bit contrived. There is also the cliche, hard-boiled, chain-smoking detective who is on the case, with the obligatory interaction between him and the murderer.

What I really like about this movie are the vintage shots of 42nd Street in New York, the seedy locals (run down hotel rooms, live sex shows, vagrant apartments, etc.), and the music, which reminds me of old-school Hill Street Blues mixed in with generic funky rhythms. The camera work is really good, and at times experimental. Often, the color schemes remind me of Dario Argento's work.

If these reasons aren't enough for you to check out this film, what if I told you that the killer quacks and talks as if he or she were a duck?

a slasher flick with b@lls
Okay, let's try to remember a time when slasher movies weren't so en vogue that Hollywood cranked out a new one every week. Let's try to remember a time when every slasher movie DIDN'T have a fresh, artificially pretty teenage hunk/starlet in the lead role. Let's remember that Fulci was one of the most underrated Italian horror directors out there, and his work was often misunderstood by the masses.

"The New York Ripper" is a slasher film that--upon initial inspection--is mean-spirited, very violent, and misogynistic. But if you view it few times, the plot becomes clearer and the film feels less contrived. The story is quite simple--psycho killer stalks and kills pretty girls--but there are many complicated details and subtle clues that make the slasher's identity a mystery up until the end.

Out of all Fulci's films, this one probably has the most unsettling violence, and there are spots where things drag a bit. But stick with it, and you'll be able to recall a time when slasher films--and horror movies in general--were much more daring than they are now.