3. The New York Ripper (Fulci, 1982)
Yet another Fulci film, The New York Ripper stands as the director's nastiest film. The Beyond and Zombie Flesh Eaters, while still violent and gory, are also a lot of fun to watch. The New York Ripper eschews any fun in favour of substantial amounts of cold, detached violence that is almost exclusively directed towards women. A cross between a giallo and an American slasher film, the film has a typical serial-killer-on-the-loose-in-the-city plot. There is a twist to this killer, however, as he speaks with a grotesque Donald Duck voice. Less 'Don't Torture a Duckling' (1972), The New York Ripper is more 'Don't Get Tortured By a Duckling'. The murders are deeply unpleasant and see every part of the female body assaulted in unflinching detail. The New York Ripper represents the nadir of the Italian exploitation industry. The sexual violence was a huge problem for censors, with the BBFC refusing it a British certificate (rumours that all of the film's prints were escorted out of the country by police are, sadly, untrue). For years the only way to get ahold of a copy was to import a Dutch VHS version. That too posed a risk as British police looked to stop the sale of video nasties and several people were fined, arrested or had their videos confiscated. The BBFC only issued The New York Ripper a certificate in 2009 when it was released on DVD by Shameless Entertainment. That version was also cut and it remains to be seen if the film will ever experience a full, uncut British release. That the film is still censored, over thirty years after it was made, is a testament to the film's shocking realism and grim tone. For this reason alone, The New York Ripper is worth watching. But be warned: even the most ardent horror aficionado can find it hard to watch the film.