Rural Misdeeds

It's been a while since I've done something other than hockey on this little blog, and even longer since I've done a movie review.  So, to change that a little, here is a 1972 giallo from...Lucio Fulci?  Before I go on, it should be noted that before Zombi 2, City of the Living Dead, and The Beyond, Fulci started out experimenting with the giallo subgenre.  Two of the movies that he directed can be considered solid works: New York Ripper and the subject of today's piece, Don't Torture a Duckling.

The basic premise of the movie is that a few boys in the rural village are turning up dead, and the people of the village and the police are baffled.  It is up to a reporter (sporting a 70's porn 'stache) and a sexually active woman to find out who is committing the murders.  Unlike most gialli, Fulci relies more on natural lighting to create the desired effect of fear.  The violence level isn't too much, but there are some spectacular moments, such as the Gypsy woman getting beaten with chains, and the end scene.  The overall effect of the movie is far greater than the parts that make up the movie.  Don't Torture a Duckling is a worthwhile movie that is comparable to some of the better giallo movies in that time period.