12. The New York Ripper - Crotch Stabbing (1982)
Unbelievably sleazy horror film/Giallo/murder mystery, The New York Ripper is packed to the rafters with objectionable material and positively exudes depravity. We have Lucio Fulci to blame for this one and it is by far and away his scuzziest, most violent film. It is noted for having a Donald Duck voiced killer which is a stupid idea and robs the film of any tension or menace. The controversial scene I have picked takes place in a theatre that houses live sex performances. A high class lady is alone in the first row openly masturbating to the couple making love on the stage. A thug of a man watches her (this is all context setting to reveal the true controversy of the scene) After the couple have done the deed, the female performer retires backstage only to be accosted by our Donald Duck friend who slits her from her crotch up to her ribs and disembowels her in the process. Most of the deaths in this film are carried out in the same way. Fulci was widely accused of misogyny throughout his career and particularly in The New York Ripper. He always said that he loved women. But to portray such disgusting violence on the screen against women, Fulci had to have serious issues with the opposite sex. I think it stems back to the fact that his wife killed herself and one of his daughters was killed in a car crash. Surely that would unbalance anyone?