Tag: giallo

The Evil Eye (1963)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

(AKA The Girl Who Knew Too Much) This is often cited as the first giallo film. However if you’re picturing black gloves and razors, this is not that kind of movie. It is an early Mario Bava work that is more of a comedy thriller than a horror film. That might sound disappointing, but I personally enjoyed rewatching this one recently, and recommended it for those with a fondness for Italian cult cinema. The main attraction here is that you get to watch a young John Saxon in action, and it is a total pleasure. The Evil Eye is simply a fun mystery with tons of twists and turns, and it looks great too. Keep your eyes peeled for a rare, and pretty hilarious, Mario Bava cameo.

The domestic Blu-ray is currently out of print.

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Death Laid an Egg (1968)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

Well, if this isn’t Anomalous Cinema, I don’t know what is. Here is one of the more art film influenced giallos. Godard’s Weekend came out a year before, and there’s a definite influence. It is also one of the more bizarre entries in the subgenre. Bizarre in the sense it’s surrealistic, and a lot of the set decoration looks like strange contemporary art. Death Laid an Egg is also not as violent or graphic as later gialli, but don’t let that stop you from seeing this one. The cinematography is spot-on, the lead performances are great (I always love to see Jean-Louis Trintignant), and the weird plot will keep your eyes glued to the screen.

There are various versions streaming online. Any of them is worth watching, but if you really enjoy the film, you may want to invest in the 2018 UK import from Nucleus. You can read a very detailed review and breakdown of the various disc versions on Nathaniel Thompson’s excellent Mondo Digital website. His book series DVD Delirium was a big influence on my taste in movies.

Import Blu-ray available from Nucleus Films.

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Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

This is not Sergio Martino’s best or worst thriller. It has a lot in its favor though: a great cast of essential giallo actors, twisty plot, a creepy villa, lovely Italian scenery, and maybe the best title ever. It also has several glaring flaws. In the end, if you’re a fan of the subgenre and haven’t seen this one, give it a try. Your Vice… delivers the goods.

Blu-ray available from Arrow.

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Deep Red (1975)

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Here’s another highly regarded Dario Argento giallo film. It’s a strange one in the sense of its highs and lows. The highs are some very artistic sequences and murder scenes, reinforced by the very first soundtrack appearance by the mighty Goblin. The lows are that the film is extremely convoluted, and sometimes excruciatingly slow. Don’t be discouraged. It is absolutely worth the effort to get to the crazy ending.

Available on Blu-ray from Arrow.

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What Have You Done to Solange? (1972)

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Here we have a beautifully filmed, very sleazy, but excellent giallo. This was part one of Massimo Dallamano’s “Schoolgirls in Peril” trilogy so, yeah… not for sensitive viewers. The film features one of my favorite cult actors Fabio Testi, as well as the debut performance of Camille Keaton (pictured above), and music by Ennio Morricone. Solange is essential if you’re interested in the giallo subgenre. You might need to take a shower after watching, but it’s worth it.

FYI – My favorite Morricone music is from this era. If you’d like to hear more, check out the album Crime and Dissonance. It’s flat-out amazing.

Available on Blu-ray from Arrow.

If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

Eye in the Labyrinth (1972)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer (not the original trailer)

This one barely squeaks by my usual standards for this website. Don’t get me wrong, its a decent giallo with a good twist at the end. However I’m recommending it ONLY for those of you that have seen all the other well-regarded giallo films. I’ve watched pretty much every decent film in the subgenre that I could get my hands on so this was a pleasant surprise. Check out Eye in the Labyrinth if you think you’ve seen em all.

A Blu-ray was released by Code Red but it is currently out of print. They’re selling on eBay for $$$.

If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.

The Cat o’ Nine Tails (1971)

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I could write a lot about the many pluses and minuses of Dario Argento, but I will restrain myself. I saw an interview where the director said he didn’t care for The Cat o’ Nine Tails because it was too straight-forward. I love it. This is a pretty bloodless murder mystery. It was rated PG no less, but I think they had to cut a couple of graphic death scenes to get that certification. Those scenes have been restored on the versions available now as far as I know. This movie also features one of the catchiest Ennio Morricone theme songs. The Cat o’ Nine Tails is an excellent example of the giallo subgenre. Yes, it’s somewhat tame, but should not be missed.

Available on Blu-ray from Arrow Films.

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Don’t Torture a Duckling (1972)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

It’s pretty amazing it took me this long to recommend a Lucio Fulci film. Sadly there aren’t many available via streaming services. This is one of my favorite movies by the man dubbed The Godfather of Gore. It’s not one of his goriest ones either. In fact, some scenes feel more like an art film.

Ok look… this movie is a fantastic horror thriller, but the end features a very clumsy FX prop death scene. You’ll know it when you see it. It looked crappy when I first saw this in the ‘90s and it looks even more ridiculous now. What’s weird is that Fulci liked it so much he used the same scene in another later film. WTF Lucio? Great film though. Truly great.

Available on Blu-ray from Arrow.

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Blood and Black Lace (1964)

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JustWatch Streaming Info | imdb | trailer

While it isn’t the first of the Giallo subgenre, Blood and Black Lace is my early favorite. This was the film that influenced all of the black glove killer films to follow. The villain’s costume alone was imitated so often it’s ridiculous. Check out Bava’s use of unnatural colored lighting. You will notice similar effects in many other filmmaker’s work still to this day. To top it off, Arrow’s restoration is flat-out stunning.

Available on Blu-ray via Arrow.

If you are a fan of Anomalous Cinema, please consider supporting this site by donating any amount (even $1.00 is appreciated) via Venmo @vergeoflight / Cash App $vergeoflight / or Paypal at this secure link. A Paypal account is not required. Thank you.