Watch The New York Ripper

In the gritty, gruesome thriller The New York Ripper, a serial killer terrorizes the streets of New York City, stalking women and leaving a trail of mutilated corpses behind him. Jack Hedley stars as Lieutenant Fred Williams, a hard-boiled cop tasked with catching the sadistic murderer before he strikes again. As the film begins, a woman out for a jog in Central Park is brutally attacked and killed by the Ripper, setting the stage for a series of increasingly violent and gruesome murders. The Ripper, who speaks in a raspy, high-pitched voice, taunts the police by calling in to a radio talk show and revealing his plans for his next victim.

As Williams and his team race to track down the killer, they encounter a cast of colorful characters, including a snide journalist (played by Howard Ross) who tries to scoop the police on the Ripper's latest atrocities, and a disfigured sex worker (Almanta Suska) who may have information that could crack the case.

But despite their efforts, the Ripper continues to elude capture, leaving Williams increasingly frustrated and desperate. As the body count rises and the Ripper's methods become ever more sadistic, Williams begins to fear that he may never catch the killer and bring him to justice.

The New York Ripper is a disturbing, visceral film that pulls no punches in its depiction of violence and depravity. Director Lucio Fulci, known for his intense, graphic horror films, spares no detail in portraying the Ripper's gruesome crimes, from slashed throats to brutalized genitalia.

But the film is more than just a shock fest; it also offers a seedy, noirish portrait of the seedy underbelly of New York City in the early 1980s. The city is depicted as a dark, dangerous place, full of opportunistic criminals and corrupt officials, where violence and mayhem are never far away.

Hedley gives a strong performance as Williams, a man whose own personal demons are amplified by his desperate need to catch the killer. As he delves deeper into the case, Williams becomes increasingly unhinged, relying on alcohol and cigarettes to cope with the stress and trauma of his job.

Ross is also memorable as the slimy journalist Peter Bunch, who cares more about getting a good story than helping the police catch the killer. Suska, meanwhile, is both sympathetic and mysterious as the sex worker Jane, who may hold the key to unlocking the Ripper's secrets.

Despite its intense subject matter, The New York Ripper is a well-crafted film with impressive cinematography and a haunting musical score by Francesco De Masi. Fulci's adept direction keeps the film moving at a brisk pace, building tension and suspense as Williams and the Ripper engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

The New York Ripper is not for the faint of heart, but for those with a stomach for intense, uncompromising horror, it delivers the goods. Fans of gory, boundary-pushing horror films will find plenty to appreciate here, while those looking for a raw, unflinching look at the underbelly of urban life will find plenty to chew on as well.

The New York Ripper is a 1984 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.