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Horror Cult Classic

Lucio Fulci’s giallo probes superstition, scandal, and murder in a remote Italian village.

DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING

A classic tale of the perverse from director Lucio Fulci.

1972 · 1h 45m · R · Horror / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A reporter and a promiscuous young woman try to solve a series of child killings in a remote southern Italian town rife with superstition and a distrust of outsiders.

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Vault Note

If you thought Donald Duck had it rough, try surviving this village.

Programmer's Pick

Fulci’s rural giallo swaps urban chic for backwoods paranoia, pitting outsiders against a tangle of superstition, sex, and small-town secrets. With a cast as volatile as the villagers’ tempers and violence that’s as shocking as the town’s hypocrisy, this isn’t your typical city-slicker murder mystery.

— SassyFlix Programmer
Quick Answer
What is Don't Torture a Duckling about?

Don't Torture a Duckling is a 1972 Italian horror, mystery, and thriller film directed by Lucio Fulci about a reporter and a promiscuous young woman investigating a series of child murders in a superstitious southern Italian town.

Details & Specs
Director
Lucio Fulci
Writers
Lucio Fulci, Roberto Gianviti, Gianfranco Clerici
Release
1972
Runtime
1h 45m
Country
Italy
Language
Italian
Also Known As
Fureur Meurtrière, The Long Night of Exorcism, Не тортуй каченя, O Estranho Segredo do Bosque dos Sonhos, O Estranho Segredo da Floresta dos Sonhos, Don't torture a Duckling

Why Cult

Rural Giallo Setting

Set in a remote southern Italian village, the film trades the usual urban giallo backdrop for insular countryside suspicion and superstition.

Fulci at the Helm

Directed by Lucio Fulci, this entry shows the maestro of Italian horror working his signature mix of brutality and social commentary.

Taboo-Breaking Themes

The plot delves into topics like superstition, child murder, and sexual deviance, pushing boundaries for both giallo and horror cinema.

Provocative Cast

Florinda Bolkan, Barbara Bouchet, and Tomas Milian headline a cast that brings both style and volatility to this feverish whodunit.

Questions from the Vault

What is Don't Torture a Duckling about? +

Don't Torture a Duckling is about a reporter and a promiscuous young woman trying to solve a series of child killings in a remote southern Italian town rife with superstition and a distrust of outsiders.

When was Don't Torture a Duckling released? +

Don't Torture a Duckling was released in 1972.

Who directed Don't Torture a Duckling? +

Don't Torture a Duckling was directed by Lucio Fulci.

How long is Don't Torture a Duckling? +

Don't Torture a Duckling has a runtime of 105 minutes.

What genre is Don't Torture a Duckling? +

Don't Torture a Duckling is a horror, mystery, and thriller film.

Themes & Keywords

Female Nudity Murder Female Rear Nudity Female Topless Nudity Nudity Female Full Frontal Nudity Violence Female Frontal Nudity Blood Death Cult Film Revenge Rape Sex Gore Sadism