1. Deep Red (1975)
Yes, you all knew it was going to end up at number one, but Profondo Rosso is simply a work of genius by Dario Argento - a film maestro working at the height of his powers. It also has the most effective use of a soundtrack I have ever heard in the score by Goblin. The film basically follows one of Argento's recurring themes - a hero who overlooks or misses a vital piece of information and his obsession with solving the puzzle. This endangers his life and everyone he comes into contact with. The deaths of the characters are followed by a child's tune. The hero is able to foil his own attack by recognising this tune. He plays it to a psychiatrist who says it belongs to someone who was severely traumatised in childhood. The murderer is revealed... I wont spoil it for you, but it is a terribly tragic, gut wrenching tale. Dario Argento himself played a vital role in the movies - when you see the black leather glove be-clad hands - those actually belong to the director himself. Special effects genius Carlo Rambaldi (the man behind E.T.) was on hand for Profondo Rosso to create the effects Argento wanted - effects everyone could relate to such as hot water scalding and breaking furniture. There is considerable character development for an Argento film and also some comedic elements thrown in. Everything just seems to work and it remains the crowning achievement not just of Argento but of Giallo itself