The New York Ripper (1982)

August 21, 2018

Directed by: Lucio Fulci

Written by: Gianfranco Clerici and Lucio Fulci

Starring: Jack Hedley, Almanta Suska, Howard Ross

Quote: "He used a blade. Stuck it up her joy trail, and slit her wide open. He could have done a slightly better job if he had more time. But overall, it was a good, efficient butchery."

Trivia: Kitty's death by razor blade was originally longer and more gruesome. Why the extra violence was cut is unsure, but images found on the Japanese DVD cover confirm that more gore was filmed.





This is another film that received very negative reviews. Allmovies claimed that director Lucio Fulci tried to appeal "to the lowest common denominator as never before in his career, Fulci showed with this blatant play for the sicko slasher crowd that the days of well-plotted, stylish Italian horror were gone, replaced with the most vicious sort of sexual violence and perversion." I don't disagree with the above review. The movie is vile, crude, and mean-spirited. It lacks the sleek cinematography and beauty of Mario Bava and Dario Argento's Giallo films. But, who the hell says that movies need to be beautiful? Especially when it comes to the slasher genre! Sometimes movies should be disgusting. Sometimes movies should be offensive. Sometimes the world can be a pretty ugly place and this movie is a reflection of fact. The movie is yet another of the historic Video Nasty films banned in the UK. Event today, the 2011 DVD had several minutes censored from it in the UK.

Tenebre (1982)

August 7, 2018

Directed by: Dario Argento
Written by: Dario Argento

Starring:  Anthony Franciosa, Giuliano Gemma, Christian Borromeo

Quote: "The impulse had become irresistible. There was only one answer to the fury that tortured him. And so he committed his first act of murder. He had broken the most deep-rooted taboo, and found not guilt, not anxiety or fear, but freedom. Any humiliation which stood in his way could be swept aside by the simple act of annihilation: Murder."

Trivia: In Germany, the film is still banned after 25 years of its release. The film has never been released uncut in Germany and according to the FSK (the official censorship in Germany), it never will.

I don't know how he does it, but Dario Argento has the uncanny talent of turning horrific scenes into some of the beautiful moments in film. I've only seen a small handful of Argento's films and was excited to watch Tenebre. This film does not disappoint. The film score is done by the incredible horror synth band Goblin and is absolutely amazing. The web of confusion the film creates around the mysterious killer is fascinating. The killings are beautifully disgusting. And the women in the film are ridiculously beautiful. Oh, and it is yet another one of the infamous "Video Nasties" banned in the UK during the 1980s.