Each country tends to have its own idiosyncratic film styles and genres or subgenres. Britain has the lugubrious Kitchen Sink Drama – best typified by the films of Ken Loach. Japan has scary as hell ghost stories. France has the New French Extremism with films like Irreversible, Romance, Baise Moi.
The Italians have Giallo. Giallo translates as ‘yellow’ and refers to the yellow covers of the pulp fiction mystery books that inspired many of these films. Giallo films, for Italian audiences, mean any kind of thriller – thus the term would include films like Psycho and Peeping Tom. For non Italian audiences, Giallo refers to a very specific type of Italian film.
In the Giallo, there is the murder mystery/ whodunnit vibe running throughout the film. The killer is usually dressed in black with the iconic black leather gloves holding the murder weapon. There is usually a seedy undertone to the proceedings – the subject matter is usually lurid – and there are lashings of sex throughout the film.
Gruesome death in inventive ways are showcased in the film and there are red herrings scattered throughout. It is usually young beautiful women being carved up but there are exceptions. Gorgeous Euro starlets are associated heavily with Giallo – Edwige Fenech, Florinda Balkan, Suzy Kendall, Erika Blanc – to name a few.
All of the above elements come together to produce a heady brew of sex, sleaze, murder and mystery that characterise the Giallo. The plural of Giallo in Italian is Gialli but I have referred to Giallo in the plural as Giallos which I do believe is also technically possible.
When I wrote this list, there were too many films I loved to create a top ten so sit back and prepare to be astounded by Italian genius in the Top Twenty finest Giallo films.
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12 Comments
An excellent article and there are a number of titles on this list I am yet to see; I will be tracking them down over the next few weeks! The only glaring omission (in my, gore drenched, eyes) is Pupi Avati’s ‘The House with Laughing Windows’, a classic of the Giallo genre and sadly overlooked for many years. This one stayed with me for a long time after watching it and creates an atmosphere of palpable dread unequalled by anyone other than Bava & Argento. Highly recommended!
Hi Chris
I have to confess that I have never seen The House With Laughing Windows but I will definitely check it out based on your recommendation. Avati is quite a prolific director isn’t he? I’ve heard his name bandied around a lot but I’m not actually sure I have watched any of his films.
Shameless have released what looks to be be the definitive version of ‘Windows’. Check it out, you won’t regret it. Another Avati recommendation would be ‘Zeder’, not a Giallo but worth a watch nonetheless. Can be tricky to get hold of though….deserves a re-release!
oh awesome! I have about 20 shameless purchases but that one has somehow slipped through the radar. I think Shameless are really awesome. Imust get this film now! Thanks Chris!
I ordered House with the Laughing WINDOWS! I can’t wait! It sounds awesome
Another great article, you are currently the best contributor to this site, bearing in mind like the last commenter you’ve pointed me in the direction of some giallo’s I’ve not seen would there be any chance of a feature on little seen horror films to point us readers in the direction of.
And again like the last commenter the house with laughing windows once seen by yourself is likely to have made your top 20
Hi Matthew, thank you for the nice compliments. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling that I am helping people expand their DVD collections and delight in descriptions of some films they have maybe never seen. I value the input of posters because they point me in diretcions I havent explored before. Like House with Laughing Windows.
I am basically here to serve the horror/euro sleaze/ exploitation cult cult cult movie fan base. Us fans have been swept under the carpet for too long and it is time we had a voice!
Hi matthew
Getting back to you again. Little seen horror movies is a fab idea. It’s an idea i have been tinkering with. Bookmark me and watch this space. You should be pleasantly surprised….
What? No Opera?
Couldnt fit in all of Argento’s movies or there would be no room for anyone else! Sorry! It is a fab film.
Phenomenal article, can’t wait to check out some of these more obscure titles. Love seeing Deep Red and Don’t Torture a Duckling near the top. Great job!
Thank you for your kind comment and indeed viva Italian movies!