Here is a film that I will have the pleasure of reviewing over the weekend, NEW YORK RIPPER.
According to the official blurb that I am just going through now, the film has been rebuilt for the home HD format with previously missing scenes that make it the longest and most complete version of the film ever seen in the UK. And, another first, the disc comes not in your usual run-of-the-mill Blu-ray case but in an eye-catching, Shameless Screen Entertainment exclusive, bright lemon “Yell-o-ray” case! Check it out.
Loving the pulpy, grindhouse feel of the thing. I must admit, I know nothing about the movie, but judging by the stills below, I’m in for a right old treat. According to the press release, James Ferman ordered all prints of the film to be escorted by police to the airport and removed from the country without ever being screened, all of the way back in 1984. Score.
Here’s the plot.
Popular British actor Jack Hedley (For Your Eyes Only; Colditz) stars as Lieutenant Williams, a jaded New York cop assigned to investigate a series of brutal murders perpetrated by a serial killer with a penchant for slicing up sexually active (and attractive) women while taunting them in a Donald Duck voice. With no leads to follow except for the likelihood that the suspect is male and left-handed, Williams consults a local university psychoanalyst in the hope of building up a more detailed profile of the madman.
Shortly afterwards, the detective gets a big break when the latest victim, Fay Majors (Almanta Keller), survives an attack on her and is able to give a detailed description of the man she believes was responsible. But Williams’ luck changes for the worse when it becomes apparent that the killer is always one step ahead of him, tracking his movements and constantly aware of his whereabouts. The investigation reaches a crisis point when Williams is mocked by being forced to listen to the slaying of Kitty (Daniela Doria), a hooker he has recently been seeing, and the mutilated body of the suspect identified by Fay is discovered. Just as the case appears to be impossible to crack, Fay makes a shocking discovery…
Here are some erm, shall we say NSFW stills from the flick. Check back for my views on the film at the weekend.
