Hey folks, Valkor here. And I'm gonna clean up TOV's 15 films of horror; what? Who says you can't enjoy a good horror flick in November? Regardless, the final film, The New York Ripper aka "Lo squartatore di New York", I was hoping to have up on Halloween. But due to excess candy and the need for sleep, well… regardless, this is a classic slasher flick you won't soon forget.
The New York Ripper revolves around a NY Cop who along with a psychology professor, track down a serial killer, who's been slashing up women on the daily. And it's pretty hardcore and sexual in nature, at times slicing from the bead to the gullet. What makes this particular killer stand out? He taunts the officer in a Donald Duck voice. No I'm not kidding!
Shot in the 80's with a New York setting (Duh!), but having a definite 70's feel to it, the film is touted as being "the most controversial horror film ever made", and by today's standards that simply isn't the case anymore, however it is pretty gruesome, especially the level of detail used in the killings. And with that…
The Good:
First off Anchor Bay deserves credit for properly cleaning up this film and, believe me, it pays off as the visuals or crisp and clear. The level of gore is extremely high and these guys weren't kidding when they said it was controversial; had I watched this film in the 80's I would have wet myself, it's that sick and it looks real; more real than most horror films - and I'm talking the high budget ones. This is just gruesome. The overall film is super cheese – bad dubbing, cheesy 70's music, even the look has an almost television quality as opposed to theatrical, but that shouldn't sway you from viewing it; it's an absolute horror masterpiece!
The Bad:
The dubbing! I mean so bad its good? Yea that's what the dubbing is like in The New York Ripper.
The Ugly:
Oh boy, if you're not used to watching such graphic depictions in a horror film, then I'd say the look of your face as you watch a woman get her nipples sliced off, eyes gouged out, or stomach slashed open, to name a few. It's gonna be gross.
Overall, The New York Ripper is one of those films you'll enjoy on a pure cheesy level – it offers up a decent storyline, with some bad overdubbing, and enough sex and gore that will last you until next Halloween. I highly recommend checking it out. And out of TOV 5 stars, I'm gonna give the cheesefest that is The New York Ripper 4 stars and it's been Valkor tested, TOV Approved.
