The New York Ripper
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DVD details
Actor: Alexandra Delli Colli, Barbara Cupisti, Cosimo Cinieri, Daniela Doria, Josh CruzeDVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 85 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-08-24
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Reviews of The New York Ripper
DVD Review: Fulci being Fulci
Summary: 3 Stars
"The New York Ripper" seems to be just about the most reviled giallo/slasher out there. Sure, mainstream reviewers haven't heard of it, but I've read quite a bit of stuff on the horror genre and slasher movies, and this movie always gets singled out as being evil and destructive, even amongst critics who are relatively lenient when it comes to this sorta thing. Why this is I can't really imagine. (Though you kinda get the impression that professional horror writer's are often vaguely embarassed of the genre, so they gotta show that they have there limits, and thus be deeply offended by something) It's pretty gruesome, as far a this sorta thing goes, but other films do come plenty close to it. And yeah, the killer singles out women, but that's not exactly rare. (Though, those claiming that women are killed far more often than men in slasher movies are full of crap. Sometimes they are, sometimes not, and overall the difference isn't that big. In fact, I remember reading a study, comparing the top 10 slasher films from '81, '85, '89, respectively, and it came to the conclusion that more men died, overall. However, I seem to recall that a number of the films on there aren't what I'd call slasher films, so I don't know how accurate that really is. Anyway...) I find it particularly funny that Fulci has been labeled a misogynist due to this film. Sure, all those other movies where he horribly mangled both sexes extensively were meaningless, but this one, where he solely focuses on women, ohh, this means a whole lot. (And, of course, this was actually done for thematic/plot/dramatic purposes. If you can believe such things, this film actually has a moral, of a sort) Anyway, long story short, if you find this film offensive, you're a douche or a sissy. Maybe both. (Or I should say, if you find it morally repugnant. If you just think it's distasteful you may be alright) Still, this movie isn't really very good. It's alright, worth a look, but I'd definitely say you oughta just rent it, even if you really like some of Fulci's other stuff.
Anyway, I could try and talk about character and plot and whatnot, but ehh. It's a kinda garden-variety Giallo, meaning that the killer's motive is silly, and that you couldn't possibly guess who he is other than through sheer blind luck. But, who watches this sorta film for the plot? Stylistically, I was shocked by just how Fulci-esque this film is. Since it approaches horror in a very different way, eschewing the zombies and other supernatural stuff of his last few films I assumed this would kinda feel different. Nope, all of Fulci's trademarks are still here, with the extreme close-ups and bizarre fetishism, and slow, drawn out gore. And what can I say, I enjoy Fulci's extremely distinctive style. It is a bit different in that it's got a lot of gratuitous sex and nudity, which gives it all an extra-smutty feel. Also, the soundtrack isn't up to par, as he uses a weird electronic-disco-jazz kinda thing. It's sorta fun, but the Frizzi stuff from `They Beyond' and `City of the Living Dead' is way better.
In the end, what makes this film passable instead of good is that the killing scenes and stalking scenes just aren't all that great. The stalking scenes just lack any real suspense or any particularly interesting staging. The one exception is the scene where a character has to slip out of bed, having just slept with someone who may be the killer. Also, she's tied to the bed, which complicates things. Also, some of the gore effects are kinda painful, but none of it is all that interesting. For the most part, Fulci's interested in brutality rather than creativity, a method which doesn't really suit him. His gore effects have never been very realistic, so he's gotta make em interesting, at least. There are two scenes which are pretty extreme, the two scenes which doubtless earn this film it's reputation. They're pretty nasty, all admit, but most the rest of the stuff doesn't do too much to me. (One involves slow mutilation with a razor, the other a broken bottle going somewhere it really shouldn't go.) The intensity of the murder scenes is severely undercut but the killer's fondness of using a Donald Duck voice. So, much of the time when the killer's doing someone in, he's quacking his head off. Pretty funny. Dunno why Fulci thought doing that would be a good idea, though I guess he didn't actually write the script.
This isn't one of Fulci's more revered films, and it shouldn't be. It kinda falls in a middle ground. It's pretty gory, but the gore isn't very fun, as this film is pretty sleazy, and it doesn't have any fcool zombies. So, it doesn't really work as a serious film, but it's too dirty to really be enjoyed as camp. Still, I was sufficiently entertained. Obviously, you'll wanna see some of Fulci's more famous stuff before even considering looking into this.
Grade: C+
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