While yesterdays duo of “Don’t”s had the most ubiquitous
message when they assured, somewhat misleadingly, Don’t Be Afraid of the
Dark. Today’s film, coming in at Number
2 on the countdown, comes from Italian horror master Lucio Fulci, and, in the
inverse, it has an impenetrable title which only viewing the film will explain.
Popularly known as Don’t Torture a Duckling, the original Italian title, Non si
sevizia un paperino, actually translates more literally as Don’t Torture Donald
Duck, but even in an age where Escape from Tomorrow is a film that gets
released, it is hard to imagine the litigious House of Mouse letting that kind of
title fly. Coming off three solid thrillers, Lizard in a Woman’s Skin, One on Top
of Another, and Beatrice Cenci, Don’t Torture a Duckling was the first of his
films to really delve deep into a horror, albeit a human one. It also marks
Fulci’s first real foray into gore while he was still at the top of his giallo
game. Lucio reportedly named it as his favorite among his catalog, and I have
to admit in advance that it ranks pretty high up there for me. I was actually
surprised I had yet to review it as I've watched it a good half dozen times.
So, I suppose do what you want to a calf, a kitten, a puppy, a chick, or a
fawn, but whatever you do Don’t Torture a Duckling.
