(1982) ***1/2What 's scary and quacks like a duck? The New York Ripper, that's what! Lucio Fulci has outdone himself in this edgy, face paced and comical film. There is a serial killer terrorizing the women of New York. The only clue the detectives have is that the killer quacks like a duck. Lt. Fred Williams has his hands full. As the bodies begin to pile up he finds himself at a loss. The serial killer begins calling him to taunt him as the Lt. scrambles to solve the case. Have no fear, all will be explained in the end, even the outlandish quacking.
What an original concept, my hat is off to Fulci on this one. Yes it's hilarious, I laughed like a mad woman while the killer was quacking through the first murder. I laughed through the second and third as well. I laughed myself silly and then I stopped to think. Donald Duck = Disney, which in turn = Happy. So here is this voice you associate with happiness but for some reason Donald is pissed and he's killing you. Imagine the confusion in those final moments, the last thing you hear before drawing a final breath is quackquaquaquaquack. That's so fucked up!
There was so much nudity in this I almost forgot it was a Fulci. I thought for a moment I was watching one of Whirly's steamy French treasures. The most memorable death in the film has got to be the poor woman who gets stabbed in the snatch by a broken bottle. Ouch! There are so many strange and memorable scenes in this film, it really is one of Fulci's best.
It wouldn't be a Fulci without a gruesome eye scene. This was such a great find and a total surprise. Even though the description said the killer quacked I still didn't believe it. Had to see it for myself. Oh he quacks alright and it's fucking awesome!
