Giallo is an Italian movie genre which reached its peak in the 60s and 70s. But lately it's been gaining more fans around the world, and more people are inspired by its spectacular nature.
The name giallo means yellow and comes from the yellow book covers of the Italian pulp series, which included cheap thrillers, crime stories or bloody science fiction. One of its founders was an Italian experienced cinematographer and a novice director Mario Bava.
In 1960 he directed one of his first movies “Black Sunday”, which became a very big title in the US, because of the scenes of violence which were rarely seen in the local film market. Then it was a class B movie, now it’s an iconic piece of Italian cinema. As a director he was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's movies, gothic horror, and fantasy. Once interviewed he said that a man and his fear interests him the most , and that’s what he tried to capture in his works.
Besides Mario Bava most and best known is Dario Argento, the director of Suspiria, Profondo Rosso and many more iconic movies.
The characteristic elements of giallo cinema are paranormal happenings, brutal and violent crimes, lots of gore and fear. Nevertheless, this ugly reality is always wrapped in beautiful cinematography, full of eroticism and tension, stunning sophisticated set design and a mysterious plot. The directors were fascinated by serial killers, satanic organizations, witchcraft and paganism, which stimulated the viewer's curiosity and lured the spectator deeper into the story.
Once Dario Argento said : “ Films are dreams. Many, many critics say to me that my films are not good because they are too unbelievable, but this is my style. I tell stories like they are dreams. This is my imagination.”
And because of that violence is only background in giallo cinema; those movies are not just horrors, they show a lot of emotions and real passion for art. The characters are often confronted with their dark side, so it’s not as simple as it seems to be in so called horror movies. As I mentioned earlier, the creators of the genre had different interests, and it lead to the extraction of three main giallo subgenres: an Occult horror film, a psychological thriller and an erotic crime story.
So if Dario Argento with his pagan, witchcraft inclinations is the occult horror representative, Lucio Fulci, the director of a very rare motion picture called “One on top of the other”, would be the master of the erotic crime giallo. This unusual film was edited in three versions : French, Italian and American, and each of those is slightly different.
Of course there are a lot of giallo movies which are not so easily categorized . I encourage you to explore the topic by yourself, because those movies can be really addictive and fun if you agree with the director's concept.
One of the fun facts is that a majority of giallo movies were recorded in the native language of the actors but later they were dubbed for the local versions. It’s one of the characteristic features of giallo. As we are speaking of sound in Italian giallo, one of the most recognizable things are fabulous movie soundtracks, which have become iconic in some way. For example, in Dario Argento’s works music was composed by a progressive rock band Goblin, and in the “Black belly of the tarantula” the person responsible for the soundtrack was the famous Ennio Morricone.
This genre is often an inspiration for the contemporary horror creators like Tim Burton, whose personal idol is Dario Argento (You can see that in “Edward Scissorhands” or “The nightmare before Christmas”). And it also has inspired and evolved into a new genre - slasher, which developed particularly in the United States--“Friday the 13th”, “ The Texas chainsaw massacre” or “Halloween”. Mixing genres Quentin Tarantino uses giallo in his creations. You can experience his giallo mashups in “Reservoir Dogs” and in “Kill Bill”.
There’s now a new wave of this genre, maybe you heard of a movie called “Amer”-- it’s basically a contemporary giallo.
My presentation is only a brief description of all the aspects of the Italian giallo cinema, but I hope you enjoyed it, and you’ll watch any of the mentioned movies.
Questions:
1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteI never seen any giallo films, but maybe in the futture i will see film or series of this film. On this time i don't interest this type of cinema and don't see any films.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
Of course sometimes when i want see something scary i run film with exorcism for egzample Exorcism of Emily Rose, because i like reality film. I don't like fantastic scary film.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
I have't favorite director. When film is interest for me i watch him. On the strength i don't watch all the film the director
Thanks for Your comment, hope You'll enjoy some of those movies when you decide to watch them.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteI have never seen any of giallo films. From what I read I will give it a try and watch at least one of them to see what th article was about ;)
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
I do, and I think everybody sometimes does. It is good to get scared onece in a time.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
I do not have a favourite direvcor, as Adam said if the move is interesting to me I will watch it, maybe in the future I will find the director that makes the movies just as I like them.
I'm very happy that You'll try to watch something from this genre, I really didn't think that giallo movies are a bit forgotten kind, from the comments I can see that nobody knows what I wrote about :)
Delete1. Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteI've never seen any giallo movies.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
Scary - from time to time, gore - as one of my favourirte directors I've mentoned Tarantino, so... ;)
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
Hmm, It's really hard to choose. I'll try to give you 3 directors and some of my favourite movies (4 for each of them) :)
Martin Scorsese: Goodfellas, Casino, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street
Ridley Scott: Alien, Gladiator, Hannibal, American Gangster
Quentin Tarantino: Kill Bill, Kill Bill 2, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained
I haven't watched those movies because I like their directors, their style etc. I just like them, because they directed those movies.
Thanks for Your comment, and for sharing Your favorite directors. I aslo like Martin Scorsese, he's a great director. Did You know that lately he released a pack of restored classic polish movies, in cooperation with polish art and cultural organisations. That really helped to promote polish cinema worldwide.
Delete1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I've never seen a Giallo film before. Thanks to your post I've now heard about him.
I like scary films and when I have some free time I will get familiar with his films with great pleasure.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
Sometimes I have a fancy to watch scary movies like the "Texas chainsaw massacre", "Saw" or my favourite horror - "The Ring".
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
I like very much movie made by Robert Zemeckis because they are gripping and I've never been bored when watching them. My favourite film of this director is "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks. Robert Zemeckis directed a lot of famous movies. The one of them being "Forrest Gump". I recall in my memory one more film from this director - "Contact" with Jodie Foster. "Contact" describes the hypothetical communication process between aliens and people, but it is different from similar movies and in contrast to them it is very engrossing.
Thanks for your comment, I also like slashers like "Texas chainsaw massacre", that kind of movies developed from giallo movies. "The ring" i also an awesome horror, but i like it in the original - japanese version.
Delete1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven’t. And probably I won’t because I don’t like scary movies.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
Look up ;) No, I really don’t like them.
3. Who is your favourite director? Why?
I don’t have favourite director, because it’s not important for me who directed move. But I like for example Quentin Tarantino movies.
Thanks for Your comment, I understand why people can not like scary films, but in my opinion fear in small doses is sometimes a cool, fun feeling :)
DeleteIt might be true :)
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great article.
1. Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
I've never seen any giallo movies.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
Scary but not always
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
Unfortunately I do not have my favorite director.
Thank You for your brief comment, I hope that you enjoyed reading my article.
DeleteWhen I was in secondary school I loved horror movies. I was too scared to watch them alone so I was meeting with friends and we were watching them together. My favourite horror movie was The Ring. But I always got a problem with horror films that they stayed in my head for a bit longer. For example I was scared to look at the mirror because something terrible happen to the main character while doing this or go to the basement. But now I don’t like them much. And I often think that they are funny or just stupid. The last horror movie I watched was Paranormal Activity and after it I thought that it’s enough of this kind of movies. Kill Bill you mentioned was terrible to me and completely unwatchable so I suppose I don’t like giallo films. On the other hand I like Tim Burton’s movies. They are extraordinary and specific. Edward Scissorhands and The nightmare before Christmas were great. I'm still playing This is Halloween song sometimes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOtEdhKOMgQ).
ReplyDelete1. No, I haven't. This is the first I've heard about giallo films.
ReplyDelete2. Not really. Most of the mainstream scary/gory movies are really weak on execution. They're more funny than frightening. I know there are a lot of movies that you can't see in your local movie theatre that might be really scary (but not in a Scary movie way), but looking for those takes time and I'm not really into it. Sometimes I stumble upon a move like this. For instance, Possession by Andrzej Żuławski. This movie is scary.Or should I say, disturbing.
3. I can't say that I have a favourite director. I like movies. I like to watch movies made by certain people, because of the certain distiction that you can call style. Some directors have a great touch that works with a particular kind of script. E.g. Drive is a movie that I think is made wonderfully. Nicolas Winding Refn's direction is extraordinary and that's why I was really looking forward to his next movie "Only God forgives", which sadly was really meh. I don't like Quentin Tarantino whose direction style I find boring.
I totally agree about Drive. Have you seen Nicolas Winding Refn's "Pusher" trilogy? In my opinion it's even better than "Drive".
Delete1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteI’ve never seen any of giallo films, but based on your presentation I will see.
I think that films might be very interesting, because there are a lot of scenes with different emotions and they are unexpected endings.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
I really like watching scary movies. Then I watch them with goose skin. For me, the best scary movies are films, which keep in suspense.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
My favourite director is Tim Burton. I like his movies for unrealistic plots and characters. His movies are very colourful and in my opinion a bit naive, what makes that when I watch any of Tim Burton’s film, I feel like a child. My favourite movie that director is ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately no, I haven't seen anyone of them. I haven't even met with that name ever. So, I can't honestly assess them.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
Yes, I love scary movies. But nowadays it's more funny movies, than scary... I think old movies from this genre were much, much better.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
My favorite director is Quentin Tarantino. I like specific sense of humor and unmistakable style of his movies.
1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteIt is the first time, when I heard about his films.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
I don' t like watching scary movies- it is unpleasant for me. I always feel stressful, when I watch this kind of films.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
My favorite director is Sophia Coppola (she is a daughter of Francis Coppola). She creates at her film a beautiful world, where viewers can see her interpretion of history of the hero. Once I read book, where she described her preparations for the creation of a film about Marie Antoinette. She told that, she traveled her footsteps and tried to learn about it as much as possible. I think, that her films are very thought-provoking moral behavior and for this reason I admire her.
Thak you for commenting on my article, Spohia Coppola is a great director, have You seen her "Virgin Sucides"? Coppola family kind of rules the movie industry, so Sophia has a niece Gia Coppola, who is also a film director, her debut was "Palo Alto" with James Franco. If you like Sophias style, i think you'd also like Gia's movie.
Delete1. I have not heard or watched movies directed by Giallo . Usually, I focus on the production of American films .
ReplyDelete2. I do not like your typical horror movie , but sometimes I like to watch a good psychological Thirrel such as The Prophecy or ring . I do not like the typical scary movies where blood is pouring in torrents .
3. My favorite is the director Clint Eastwood , him, all the films have a deep message and were very well staged.
Thanks for reading my article, I also like Clint Eastwood, but as an actor, he was great in 60's westerns ("For a handful od dollars","For a few dollars more" etc.), funny thing is they were also made by italian crew.
Delete1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteI have never seen before any movie of gaillo, it's interesting and new for me.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
I don't really like scary movies, I prefere something with more essence. But of course, I watch a lot of different movie types, even scary movies sometimes.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
I really like Tim Barton movies, they have someting amazing and unreal. They are definitely very original.
1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen yet but after this article definitely I will ;)
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
I don't like watching scary movies but I have seen a few. Mainly those the most popular.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
Francis Ford Coppola. Why?;) The Godfather of course.
At the beginning, thank you for really interesting article.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard about such movie genre like giallo.
1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
No I haven't, but thanks to you, I'm going to watch one, once I'll find some time.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
Honestly I'm not a fan of such movies, I don't like to be scared after watching a movie :D so it's not my style, but from time to time, I'm opened on every movie genre, even musicals ;)
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
I don't have my favorite one, I like many movie directors, from Tarantino to J.J. Abrams.
Questions:
ReplyDelete1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
Sadly i did not :(
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
My favorite scary movies are those that include suspense instead of gore. Gore is not scary for me at all, movies like REC etc. are those that scare me, not because of jumpscares but because of the unknown and suspense.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
Do not have one sorry :(
1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteNo, I never heard before about that "genre" of films.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
Nowadays there are not really good horror movies. It's really hard to find really good and scary film. But I liked The Exorcist (1973) and first part of The Ring. If we're tlaking about gore: only Tarantino movies, but his last film -> The Hateful Eight wasn't as good as rest of his work.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
It's hard to tell... I love Peter Jackson for his Lord of the Rings trilogy but Hobbit was... ah just wasn't it.
Quentin Tarantino is the director whom films I most watched. But not all of them, in my opinion, were equally good.
I choose both of them :)
1: Have you seen any of giallo films? How did you like them?
ReplyDeleteI've seen one giallo film - 'Freaks'. Movie about deformed human oddities existing outside of society. This movie tells about how they have normal feelings and thoughts and how iniquitous and cruel normal people could be. Wyniki wyszukiwania
I'm deeply impressed by this film.
2. Do you enjoy watching scary or gore movies?
I like only one horror movie - 'The Shining'. I've seen it many times.
3. Who is your favorite director? Why?
I'm a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick. He was a great director. Every film he made has unique atmosphere and concept. Every title could be created by completly different directors. His movies are laden with symbolism and hidden messages.