Movie Info
Movie Name: Don’t Torture a Duckling
Studio: Medusa Distribuzione
Genre(s): Horror/Mystery/Suspense
Release Date(s): September 29, 1972
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
No one is safe…
When a child is murdered in the town of Accendura, police question who the killer is, and the people of the superstitious small town think anyone could be a suspect. Andrea Martelli (Tomas Milian) has come to Accendura for the story and realizes he’s stumbled on to much more when a second child is killed. Who is killing the children and why?
Directed by Lucio Fulci, Don’t Torture a Duckling (Non si sevizia un paperino) is an Italian mystery-horror giallo film. The movie was released to controversy regarding the plot and was banned in some areas. Since its release, the movie has gained a cult following and positive reviews.
The wicked witch of the village
You see a title like Don’t Torture a Duckling, and you have to watch it. Giallo movies often have great titles and this is one of the best. Sometimes the movies don’t live up to their fun titles, but Don’t Torture a Duckling is a solid thriller. Due to the subject, a ******spoiler alert****** is in effect for the rest of the review.
The movie largely plays on small town horrors. The people that live in the town are just as hateful and distrusting as the killer. Child murderers are considered the worst of the worst, and the suspects of the crime in the film are treated as such. Giuseppe and La Magiara are developmentally challenged and mentally ill and are ravaged by the villagers. The person who is most revered in town is the actual killer (which in the age of church abuse scandals, it wasn’t much of a shock), but he walks the holy path in the mind the villagers.
A priest…is a bad guy? No way (said no one in the 2000s)
The “heroes” of the movie are both flawed. Andrea Martelli (Tomas Milian) is the reporter out to solve the case but is being loose with his marriage and family. Patrizia (Barbara Bouchet) is a girl with a reputation…but they are the ones who end up putting it together because they are outsiders who aren’t blinded by small town biases.
The movie is quite visual like a lot of Fulci’s movies (and giallo for that matter). Just due to the subject and victims it is rather intense. If you throw in the great scene of the priest bouncing down the mountain and having his flesh ripped from his face as he does, it is rougher than a lot of slasher films or torture films.
Don’t Torture a Duckling is a relatively easy mystery to solve, but it is still a decent thriller. It is a good example of the genre and new transfers of the film are quite crisp and clean. Like most horror/gore movies, it isn’t for everyone, but Don’t Torture a Duckling is worth seeing just for the title.
