You could say that Fulci is the one of the Italian horror masters that deserve the title auteur the most. Fulci never really cared about the censors or the mainstream audience. Early in his career as a film maker, Fulci was encouraged by directors like Luchino Visconti to never bend for censors and critics and always follow his own visions and instincts. Most obvious in his later hits (Zombie, The Beyond etc.), the story was always just a vehicle to carry one of his visions for a scene to another vision. When interviewed about The Beyond, Fulci said that it is a visual experience that must be received without reflection.
Many of Fulci's films are pretty e2000soteric. To understand him and his movies, and to see the art in his films that you might not see the first time/s, you have to see many of his other movies, preferably his early ones like Don't Torture a Duckling or The Psychic. These films are a bit more conventional in its narratives and "introduces" you to Fulci before being struck with the aberrant structures and priorities of Zombi 2 and City of the Living Dead.
I also believe that since Fulci's films were so style dominant and so neglective of plot, he still wanted to put in something that would evoke our intellect. For example like he did with the social criticism in Don't Torture a Duckling when the witch is being tortured or when he gave us enigmatic endings like in City of the Living Dead, The House by the Cemetery etc.

Fulci believes in creating nightmares on film, not coherant movies.
The entire bit with the pick axe in COTLD, for example, was simply to frighten the audience. I've seen the movie 3 times now and that scene still makes me wince. But yeah, it doesnt make sense.
The problem is, it can often backlash and make a movies that really suck. Demonia, Zombie 3(Yes, Fulci did most of it), and Conquest were simply crap.
"I hate PG-13 horror flicks"- THIS IS MY SIG GENIUSES!

CotLD is in my top 5 favorite movies ever
I'm not much of an admirer of Fulci's but CotLD is one of my favorite nightmare-fuel movies (despite the fact half the time it's making me laugh, I love the way CG opens the casket with that pick axe despite the fact he's doing it because he suspects there's a
living person
inside!).
The word that comes to mind when I think of Fulci is
stark
, it's an identifiable style so I understand how people can appreciate his films.

You hate an entire country because of its president? You really are a fool.
I like the taste of play-doh in my mouth!

Even that homo Pasolini rapes Fulci.
Wow, did you really just say that?
What a simpleton.

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Why am I an idiot, TURKISH? WTF IS UR PROBLEM, M8? I am not American, so plz don't accuse me of being one, I hate those guys!! George Bush stole 40 gold bullion from the Iraq people, he's just doing it for the oil ofcourse.
I have no clue as to what Poopy Pants stated (sinse the kont is on ignore from now on) but judging from your response it can't be too good hehe that's nice to know. Also for the record I am not American either. Me thinks Poopy Pants above doesn't like being treated in the manner he comes across as.
Too bad!
"Shall I love thee like death loved me."

Why am I an idiot, TURKISH? WTF IS UR PROBLEM, M8?
I am not American, so plz don't accuse me of being one, I hate those guys!! George Bush stole 40 gold bullion from the Iraq people, he's just doing it for the oil ofcourse.

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You have no real opinion and are therefore IGNORED.
You really do love to hear the sound of your own voice, don't you kid. Your screen name isn't any better, boy!. I mean imagine naming yourself after a rundown country that is behind in most things us Westeners enjoy in life (clean water, food in our shops, etc). You have done nothing but act like a d*ck sinse you started spewing your crap in here, crap might I add that is put across as fact when all it is is self righteous comments from a douche bag such as yourself. You act like a jackass then you will be refered to as one.
You, wee man, you
have no real opinion and are therefore IGNORED
as all you came here to do is start sh_it with people for no real reason. You are now number 608 on my ignore list, boy!.
"I'll make you an offer you can't refuse, you've only got your soul to lose."

Hey Turkish, YOU CAN'T DRAG RACE WITH JESUS.

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"For you I would highly recommend watching Four of the Apocalypse, I have a feeling that you will find Tomas Milian's performance inspiring."
I already said it was my favorite Fulci a few pages back. My top 5 Fulci atm (There are still a few I need to view):

1. FOTA
2. CONTRABAND
3. DTAD
4. ZOMBI 2
5. COTLD
   Fulci has some solid stuff, definitely more solid than TAKASHI MIIKE'S oeurve. REKKA? What does that crap have going for it besides the great tunes? Riki Tekeuchi blowing sh!t up with a rocket launcher, thinking he's some kind of badass (obviously he's not), showering me with crappy CGI. No thanks. AUDITION? I'm snoring. DEAD OR ALIVE? DON'T BOTHER ME WITH THE ENDING, I'LL BE FAST ASLEEP WHEN THAT HAPPENS! The Q? Decent at best. And these are his more popular stuff, I can't even imagine how bad his "lesser" w5b4orks must be. I enjoyed ICHI, but that's about it. Fulci's gorgeous Italian feces is warmer and greater than that foul Jap beast, MIIKE.

I am not even sure what to say about that, not everyone can love a masterpiece such as BfD. "You should lose that, uh virginity of yours before he gets to you."
For you I would highly recommend watching Four of the Apocalypse, I have a feeling that you will find Tomas Milian's performance inspiring.

LOL Chaco, you are the biggest moron of them all. You actually LIKED BFD? HAHAHAHAHA! That's a laugh, mate. THE BLOOD OF THESE WHORES IS KILLING ME? LOL, I'M NOT LAUGHING!
You should try watching GOOD MOVIES like Peacock King or The Seventh Curse you meatslab. Nam Nai Choi is quite possibly the most original filmmaker of our times. And Turkey is a worthless country.

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Turkish, I can understand where you are coming from, if you hate Fulci I highly recommend avoiding Takashi Miike, because if you find Fulci boring, you will find him unbearable.

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In this case I would have to think that you are the moron since Blood for Dracula is not directed by Fulci.

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For some reason I thought that BfD was an A-movie.

Interesting points, CHACO. However, I must disagree with you. Not only that, but I'm reminded of another film that I absolutely despise that is similar to Fulci's films - BLOOD FOR DRACULA. I DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT'S JUST A RIDICULOUS B-MOVIE! WHERE IS THE SCRIPT?

If you think that Duckling is good then, I think that you should see A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, The Psychic, Beatrice Cenci and 4 of the Apocalypse.
Different people see different stuff in his films. Most of "fans" have only seen the five films other than Duckling you mentioned. That is not bad, but he was able to do so much more. I do love this period also, so don't misunderstand me. CotLD is in my top 5 favorite movies ever
The five films you thought were forgettable, I thought were memorable. For the most part they had excellent soundtracks, large amounts of gore, great atmosphere, beautiful cinematography. I think that the build up and creating of atmosphere were more important than story line in these films. If you are looking for more story oriented films from him see the four I mentioned at the beginning.

I actually prefer Massacre Time to Four of the Apocalypse.
Dear Mom, I put a couple of people in Hell today