Fulci Friday – A Retrospective

After the six-month journey through all of Lucio Fulci’s horror films, I am certainly left with a more broad overview of his career.  He had a stylish entrance into the genre with thought-provoking giallos, such as A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin and Don’t Torture A Duckling.  Following this phase was the films that Fulci is remembered most for, Zombi 2 and the Gates of Hell trilogy (City of the Living Dead, The Beyond, and The House By the Cemetery).  These four aforementioned films compile the best known works of his career.  Later on, Fulci’s career dropped off with some far more disappointing films (Sodoma’s Ghost and The Sweet House of Horrors), but still marked with a few highlights, namely Zombi 3 and Voices From Beyond.

I have to admit that toward the end of this endeavor, I was really ready to get back to re-watching Zombie and the Gates of Hell films.  Unfortunately, so many of his later films are so disappointing in comparison.  So below I’ve compiled a list of what I believe to be the top ten films of Lucio Fulci.  Newcomers to his films will certainly want to check these out first.

Top 10 Films of Lucio Fulci

10. The Black Cat

The Black Cat was Fulci’s attempt at an Edgar Allan Poe story.  It is a loose interpretation, but executed in a manner that makes this a great watch.  Read the full review of The Black Cat to find out why it deserves its spot on this list.

9. A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin

This giallo was one of the best films during Fulci’s early horror period.  It has a superb story line and is executed justly.  Check out the full review of Lizard In A Woman’s Skin for more detail.

8. The New York Ripper

Immediately following the Gates of Hell trilogy, this film came across as a much darker and controversial giallo.  Though it is certainly disagreed upon, it is my opinion that this film earns a spot on this list.  Read the full review of The New York Ripper to find out why.

7. Zombi 3

Though the film had virtually nothing to do with his first zombie film, Zombi 2, this sequel is a must see.  It is far more cheesy and ridiculous than the first, but certainly enjoyable.  Find out more with the full review of Zombi 3.

6. The Psychic

This is another one of Fulci’s best giallo films, with a brilliant story and enough gore to appease fans of The Beyond.  It has components of Fulci’s giallo period and of his later gore period, so gives the impression that its a transitional piece of sorts.  Check out the full review of The Psychic.

5. The House by the Cemetery

The third film in the Gates of Hell trilogy is my least favorite of the three, but still definitely one of the best of Fulci’s films.  Read the full review of The House by the Cemetery to find out why it deserves its spot on this list.

4. City of the Living Dead

This is the first film in the Gates of Hell trilogy, and certainly deserving of the number four position on this list.  Check out the full review of City of the Living Dead for more thoughts on the film.

3. The Beyond

The best of the three Gates of Hell films, and one of the definitive works in Italian horror history, this is not a film to be missed.  It lands number three on this list, but it’s not far behind the top two.  Here’s the full review of The Beyond.

Honorable Mention

Nightmare Concert (aka A Cat In the Brain)

Though it does not receive a spot in the top ten, and it is certainly not one of Fulci’s best films, Nightmare Concert receives honorable mention for being an important piece during his career.  As both a self-parody, and compilation of scenes from his other films, this is a film worth checking out for the Fulci fans that have seen the others on this list.  Read the full review of A Cat In the Brain and decide for yourself.