15 Great Italian Horror Films You Must See Before You Die
9. Salo, Or The 120 Days Of Sodom (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1975)
“Nothing is more contagious than evil.”
You’ll might hear A Serbian Film called the most extreme, horrifying and unwatchable horror film ever made. Or perhaps you’ve heard the same said of Deodato’s infamous Cannibal Holocaust. The horror and depravity of Pasolini’s Salo is in another league entirely. It requires a very sturdy stomach to make it through, but if you are able to stick it out, it’s a thoroughly rewarding watch. Unlike A Serbian Film, which is essentially shock for its own sake, Salo is actually a damn incredible film that will linger with you long after the credits roll. Zombies, sinister covens and black leather gloved killers are all very well and good, and all have their well-earned place in Italian horror cinema - but none come close to matching the terror and helplessness of Salo.
The best endorsement I can give is this: Salo is simply the greatest film that I hope to God I will never have to watch again.