The New York Ripper: Quirky Gore in the Big Apple
Alright folks, grab your popcorn—and maybe a bit of surströmming if you dare—‘cause today we’re diving headfirst into “The New York Ripper.” Directed by the infamous Lucio Fulci, this film, I gotta say, left me with feelings more mixed than a Swedish summer. You know, sun one moment, pouring rain the next.
So, we’re waltzing around New York City, but not the romanticized version with saxophones and sunsets. Fulci’s New York is dark, gritty, and frankly, a little bit of a dump—and in walks this duck-voiced killer (yeah, you heard me right), causing havoc. It’s like Donald Duck gone rogue. But you know, Donald’s keeping it PG-13 at least…
The film’s leading man, Jack Hedley, gives us Detective Williams. He’s grizzled and cynical, perfect for the city’s underbelly vibe. There’s a perverse charm here, like hanging out with a friend’s oddball uncle who’s seen too much. And then we’ve got the dazzling Almanta Suska, who somehow keeps things classy amidst the urban chaos. Her character’s wrapped in mystery like a meatball wrapped in… Well, another meatball.
The violence? Let’s be honest, it’s Fulci, so we’re talking guts and gore. At times, it felt like he might’ve gone a smidge too far, even for a horror fan. But maybe that’s just me getting cold feet, which, for a Swede, is saying something!
I remember watching this in the late ’80s with my cousin over a weekend at the summer cabin. The crunch of gravel outside had us on edge! Suddenly, “Hej!” from the neighbor scared the wits out of us more than any movie could. That night, the film stuck like glue, strange and eerie.
In the end, “The New York Ripper” is bonkers, maddening yet somewhat satisfying. It’s a cocktail of nightmarish chaos and ludicrous camp—a bit like if Bergman decided to invite Shock and Melodrama for a fika. So, maybe don’t watch this with grandma, unless she’s into weird horror. But if you’re a horror buff ready for quirky gore and a laugh, it just might be your cup of lingonberry juice. Cheers!
Check the trailer below
