Giallo - from best to worst
In preferential order...
(no spoilers have been included in the comments below)
(no spoilers have been included in the comments below)
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- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsDavid HemmingsDaria NicolodiGabriele LaviaA jazz pianist and a wisecracking journalist are pulled into a complex web of mystery after the former witnesses the brutal murder of a psychic.Dario Argento directed an enduring classic here. It has great camerawork, engaging lead actors, frightening set-pieces and amazing music from soundtrack legends Goblin. Plus it has one of the most audaciously brilliant twist reveals imaginable.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsTony MusanteSuzy KendallEnrico Maria SalernoAn American expatriate in Rome attempts to unmask a serial killer he witnessed in the act of an attempted murder - and is now hunting him and his girlfriend.In his debut movie, Argento took Mario Bava's template and moulded it into a chic and direct contemporary thriller whose international success directly led to the giallo cycle of films of the early 70's. The expertly handled suspense scenes are photographed exquisitley, it has a legendary Ennio Morricone score and it is cleverly plotted. A classic.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsAnthony FranciosaGiuliano GemmaJohn SaxonAn American novelist visiting Rome to promote his latest book is stalked and harassed by an obsessed fan who is committing a string of murders that appear to be tributes to his work.This 80's Argento is pure carnage. Chock-full of designer violence and flamboyant camera-work. Has great music and nice plot twists too. It made the Video Nasty list and it's not hard to see why.
- DirectorMario BavaStarsCameron MitchellEva BartokThomas ReinerA masked, shadowy killer brutally murders the models of a scandalous fashion house in Rome.The film that set the rules for giallo cinema. Maybe the most artistic of gialli. Lush cinematography and gorgeous colours abound. Don't think, just look
- DirectorSergio MartinoStarsGeorge HiltonEdwige FenechConchita AiroldiAn ambassador's wife discovers that one of the men in her life - either her husband, an ex-lover or her current lover - may be a vicious serial killer.Sergio Martino's erotic giallo starring the one and only Edwige Fenech. Highly stylised and includes a particularly sensual and haunting main theme from Nora Orlandi. Essential stuff basically.
- DirectorLucio FulciStarsFlorinda BolkanStanley BakerJean SorelThe potentially unhinged daughter of a British politician is accused of killing her hedonistic neighbor after she witnesses the murder in a dream.Lucio Fulci's masterpiece. Trippy and psychedelic. Well acted and beautifully shot. Featuring yet another super Ennio Morricone score. This is one of the best gialli ever made. Highly recommended.
- DirectorMassimo DallamanoStarsFabio TestiKarin BaalCristina GalbóA teacher who is having an affair with one of his students is reluctant to present an alibi when his lover witnesses the first in a series of murders connected to their school.One of the most highly regarded entries in the genre with good reason. It has a great, compelling mystery and agreeably salacious undertones. And with a top notch Morricone soundtrack, what's not to like?
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsJennifer ConnellyDonald PleasenceDaria NicolodiA young girl who has an amazing ability to communicate with insects is transferred to an exclusive Swiss boarding school, where her unusual capability might help solve a string of murders.Part supernatural horror, part giallo, Phenomena is a wilfully ridiculous film. The sheer insanity of it, though, is what makes it so thoroughly entertaining. It's sort of like Suspiria with a giallo killer. And lots of insects.
- DirectorLucio FulciStarsFlorinda BolkanBarbara BouchetTomas MilianWhen a southern Italian town is rocked by a string of child murders, the police and two urban outcasts search for the culprit amid scapegoating within the superstitious community.Highly impressive early Lucio Fulci effort. Stars the ultra gorgeous Barbara Bouchet. Contains a graphic chain-whipping that is an early indicator of Fulci's gory tendencies. Unusual southern Italian setting.
- DirectorEmilio MiragliaStarsBarbara BouchetUgo PagliaiMarina MalfattiTwo sisters inherit their family castle, which is said to be haunted by their ancestor, a dark-haired, red-robed woman who is said to take seven lives every hundred years.She's a killer queen indeed. This one surely has the coolest killer in the whole giallo sub-genre. Its a film that mixes a neo-gothic element with a super-chic fashion house populated by a host of gorgeous girls.
- DirectorSergio MartinoStarsGeorge HiltonAnita StrindbergAlberto de MendozaAn insurance investigator tries to determine any irregularities in the policy of a heiress' dead husband, but soon finds himself suspected of her murder.Very good classic-style Sergio Martino entry, influenced directly by The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Awesome opening credit sequence with magnificent Bruno Nicolai music score.
- DirectorMario BavaStarsClaudine AugerLuigi PistilliClaudio CamasoThe murder of a wealthy countess triggers a chain reaction of brutal killings in the surrounding bay area, as several unscrupulous characters try to seize her large estate.The origins of the bodycount movie are right here. But there's a black sense of humour at the heart of this proto-slasher. Ultimately, though, it's all about the 13 violent murders.
- DirectorAldo LadoStarsGeorge LazenbyAnita StrindbergAdolfo CeliBetween a four-year gap in the murder of a young girl, the daughter of a well-known sculptor is discovered dead, and her parents conduct an investigation, only to discover they are much out of their depth.A great Aldo Lado effort. Superb Ennio Morricone music helps immeasurably and Venice locations are used to excellent effect. Some similarities to Don't Look Now.
- DirectorSergio MartinoStarsSuzy KendallTina AumontLuc MerendaA string of appalling lust murders shocks the University of Perugia as a sadistic serial killer strangles to death beautiful college girls with a red and black scarf.The fifth of Sergio Martino's gialli, this one reduced the mystery and upped the violence, creating in effect a proto-slasher par excellence. It is also notable for having one of the most tense final thirds in the history of the giallo sub-genre.
- DirectorGiuliano CarnimeoStarsEdwige FenechGeorge HiltonPaola QuattriniHaving recently escaped the clutches of a hippie sex cult, a beautiful model is pursued by a serial killer whose previous victims include former occupants of her new apartment.Really a case of more of the same. But in this sub-genre that is a very good thing right? A maniac terrorises the inhabitants of a high-rise building with predictably bloody results.
- DirectorAldo LadoStarsIngrid ThulinJean SorelMario AdorfAn American journalist temporarily stationed in Central Europe searches for his new girlfriend, who has suddenly disappeared.Prague set giallo with a unique cold, Iron Curtain ambiance. It somewhat uniquely tells the story from the recollections of a mysteriously paralysed man. Much more original than most in the genre.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsJames FranciscusKarl MaldenCatherine SpaakTwo journalists try to solve a series of murders connected to a pharmaceutical company's secret experiments, becoming targets of the killer themselves.Under-rated second feature from Argento. Very solid and much better than it is often given credit for. Nicely suspenseful set-pieces and likable leads make this one a more straight-forward effort by the director's standards but I liked it's directness of purpose.
- DirectorMario BavaStarsWilliam BergerIra von FürstenbergEdwige FenechAn industrialist invites his colleagues to his private island so they can exploit a resin formula invented by one of the guests, but a killer within the group disrupts the proceedings.A mod mystery from Mario Bava based around the Agatha Christie story Ten Little Indians. Weak on thriller mechanics but strong on visual pop art lushness and lounge grooves. Loads of fun for fans of cult Euro flicks.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsMichael BrandonMimsy FarmerJean-Pierre MarielleA musician is stalked by an unknown homicidal maniac, who blackmails him for the accidental killing of another stalker.Experimental third Argento movie. Obscure and hard to find for decades. Certainly a bit uneven in many ways with a little too much uneccessary comedy but is a good early showcase for the bolder visual ideas the director would go on to perfect.
- DirectorSergio MartinoStarsGeorge HiltonEdwige FenechIvan RassimovA woman recovering from a car accident in which she lost her unborn child finds herself pursued by a coven of devil worshipers.A sort of Italian psychedelic version of Rosemary's Baby. It looks beautiful, it has a great soundtrack and Edwige Fenech looks like THE iconic giallo heroine in this one. You cannot go wrong here.
- DirectorSergio MartinoStarsEdwige FenechAnita StrindbergLuigi PistilliA series of murders are committed near the estate of a degenerate author and his mistreated wife.This giallo is typified by being based on the Edgar Allan Poe story The Black Cat. Its also got possibly the craziest title in the genre, and that is really saying something.
- DirectorLucio FulciStarsJean SorelMarisa MellElsa MartinelliAn unscrupulous doctor is accused of killing his asthmatic wife as part of an insurance scam, despite discovering that she has a doppelgänger who works as a stripper and call girl.Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo is channelled in this very stylish erotic thriller from Lucio Fulci. The stunning Marisa Mell is great in the central double role.
- DirectorMichele SoaviStarsDavid BrandonRichard BarkeleyBarbara CupistiA group of stage actors lock themselves in the theater for a rehearsal of their upcoming musical production, unaware that an escaped psychopath has sneaked into the theater with them.Michele Soavi's inventively stylish slasher/giallo shows how much he has been missed from film-making.
- DirectorPaolo CavaraStarsGiancarlo GianniniClaudine AugerBarbara BouchetA series of victims are paralyzed while having their bellies ripped open, much in the same way tarantulas are killed by the black wasp. The victims all seem to have a connection with a spa.A classic-style giallo with another of those zoophilic names. But seriously, if you have three Bond girls all in one film together, you really don't need to do much more.
- DirectorMaurizio PradeauxStarsRobert HoffmannNieves NavarroJorge MartínA photographer witnesses a murder through a telescope but can't identify the killer. She reports it to police, but other witnesses are found murdered. She may be the next target.Typically convoluted mystery with some good suspense too. To its advantage, it has some bloody murders, nudity and the always excellent Susan Scott in a lead role.
- DirectorPupi AvatiStarsLino CapolicchioFrancesca MarcianoGianni CavinaStefano, a young restorer, is commissioned to save a controversial mural located in the church of a small, isolated village.Creepy rural giallo about a scary painting of the sacrifice of St. Sebastian and how it links to a weird house.
- DirectorFrancesco BarilliStarsMimsy FarmerMaurizio BonugliaMario ScacciaSylvia, an industrial scientist, is troubled by strange hallucinations related to the tragic suicide of her mother.One of the most outstandingly beautifully photographed gialli ever. Clearly influenced by Repulsion and Rosemary's Baby, this is what a giallo directed by Roman Polanski would be like.
- DirectorAntonio BidoStarsCorrado PaniPaola TedescoFranco CittiA pharmacist is murdered, and a woman happens to see the culprit leave the scene. She soon finds herself being stalked by the killer, and when her boyfriend tries to discover who the murderer is and stop him, he begins to find out that there is much more to the murder than the ordinary killing it first appeared to be.Clearly influenced by Deep Red, this late 70's giallo benefits from a very well thought out central mystery. It is also distinctive for including a cool Goblinesque score by a band called Trans Europa Express.
- DirectorLuigi BazzoniStarsFranco NeroSilvia MontiWolfgang PreissA maverick, heavy-drinking journalist pursues a killer who is targeting acquaintances of his, prompting the police to brand him a suspect in their investigation.Stands out due to its amazing cinematography from Vittorio Storaro. Also benefits a lot from the presence of the charismatic Franco Nero in the central role and yet another great Morricone soundtrack.
- DirectorTonino ValeriiStarsGeorge HiltonSalvo RandoneWilliam BergerA mysterious decapitation leads Inspector Peretti into a case of blackmail, deceit, and the unsolved kidnapping of a young girl.Compelling, complex and excellent giallo with a strong emphasis on the very involving mystery. There's a historical child murder underpinning the mystery and some well executed stalk sequences, including a somewhat memorable bloody circular saw murder.
- DirectorMassimo DallamanoStarsGiovanna RalliClaudio CassinelliMario AdorfPolice investigate apparent suicide of teen girl and uncover details of a teenage prostitution racket. They go on the hunt for a motorcycle riding killer.Top notch poliziotteschi/giallo cross-over. Also notable for being Massimo Dallamano's thematic follow-up to his earlier classic What Have You Done to Solange? Its admittedly heavy on the police procedural side but the mystery is well presented.
- DirectorUmberto LenziStarsAntonio SabatoUschi GlasPier Paolo CapponiA woman, a survivor of a failed murder attempt by the so-called "Half-Moon Killer", and her husband try to find a connection between herself, six other women, and the killer.This Umberto Lenzi picture is a perfect example of a textbook early 70's giallo. It's brutal, sleazy and silly. But also nicely photographed and scored, with some effective suspense scenes to boot.
- DirectorLuigi BazzoniMario FanelliStarsFlorinda BolkanPeter McEneryNicoletta ElmiAfter being tormented by dreams about astronauts on the moon, a translator visits a deserted seaside town whose inhabitants know her, although she does not know them.Genuine odd-ball thriller about a woman who experiences strange dreams of a mysterious lunar landing. Stars the always reliable Florinda Bolkan.
- DirectorSilvio AmadioStarsFarley GrangerBarbara BouchetRosalba NeriThe secretary of a writer and his wife investigates the disappearance of her lover - their previous secretary - and finds herself the target of the couple's erotic desires and a murder plot.Barbara Bouchet and Rosalba Neri melt the screen in one of the all time erotic classics of the genre.
- DirectorFerdinando BaldiStarsArthur KennedyJohn RichardsonCaroline LaurenceWhile spending their annual vacation on a small Mediterranean Island, nine bourgeois family members are stalked and killed one by one by a mysterious killer.A Ten Little Indians variant with a particularly nefarious bunch of jet-setters stranded on an island, while someone picks them off one by one. Great fun.
- DirectorLuigi CozziStarsGeorge HiltonAntoine Saint-JohnFemi BenussiGiorgio is a greedy adulterer who makes a deal with a serial killer to dispose of his wealthy wife, Nora. Unfortunately, a thrill-seeking young couple steal the killer's car with Nora's corpse in the trunk, ending up at a run-down seaside villa.Unusual in that the killer's identity is known from the outset. But oh what a creepy killer he is.
- DirectorMario CaianoStarsRosemary DexterAdolfo CeliHorst FrankA woman searches for her missing lover, a psychiatrist who has suddenly vanished for no apparent reason. She ends up at a villa populated by a group of eccentric individuals. A string of murders commences immediately.A laid-back giallo with an interesting jazz-fusion soundtrack. Plays out similar to an Agatha Christie whodunnit, with its cast of characters all under suspicion of killing the very unsympathic murder victim. Look out too for the appearance of a very young Sybil Danning.
- DirectorLamberto BavaStarsSerena GrandiDaria NicolodiVanni CorbelliniA former hooker runs a successful men's magazine. An obsessed admirer systematically slaughters her models (occasionally increasing the magazine's output) and supplies the mistress with pictures of their disfigured corpses taken in front of her semi-nude posters visible in the background. Will she be the psycho's next victim?An absurd but very fun effort, with a highly memorable appearance from the one and only Sabrina Salerno. Daft but endearing erotic thriller.
- DirectorGiulio QuestiStarsGina LollobrigidaJean-Louis TrintignantEwa AulinThe depraved manager of a high-tech poultry factory - which is genetically engineering boneless chickens - is pulled into a love triangle with his domineering wife and her sexually-liberated cousin, leading to double-crosses and murder.Ultra-weird new wave influenced oddity about...an experimental chicken farm. More Godard than Bava. It mixes surrealism and pop art in with a thriller narrative, with a persistent score to boot. Truly weird.
- DirectorLuciano ErcoliStarsFrank WolffNieves NavarroSimón AndreuAfter a French stripper is harassed by a man who wants a cache of diamonds stolen by her late father, she flees to England in the company of a doctor, but danger follows.The most traditional of Luciano Ercoli's three gialli. Susan Scott is a radiant presence here, as a high class stripper girl who gets mixed up in something very bad.
- DirectorLucio FulciStarsJennifer O'NeillGabriele FerzettiMarc PorelA clairvoyant woman discovers a skeleton in a wall in her husband's house, and seeks to find the truth about what happened to the victim.More solid Fulci, about a woman with a psychic ability who is drawn into a deadly situation. This one is defined by the very interesting fragmented way the mystery is presented.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsEnzo CerusicoPaola TedescoPierluigi ApràA young woman gets murdered on a crowded tram without anyone else noticing the crime. Inspector Giordani decides to recreate the incident in order to find out the killer's identity.Excellent and very tense instalment of the Doors Into Darkness TV series.
- DirectorDuccio TessariStarsHelmut BergerGiancarlo SbragiaIda GalliA popular television presenter is accused of killing a teenage girl in a park, who happens to be his daughter's best friend.A giallo with the emphasis on the mystery, not the murders. The police procedural and the court case takes a more prominent role here, in a more sober entry in the genre.
- DirectorMassimo DallamanoStarsJohn MillsLuciana PaluzziRobert HoffmannWhile trying to solve a series of murders, a possessive narcotics detective hires a hit-man to kill his unfaithful wife, but the hunter and the hunted soon begin an affair.Hitchcockian crime-thriller with giallo characteristics. Good acting, solid direction and a story that holds up.
- DirectorRoberto ParianteDario ArgentoStarsMarilù ToloRiccardo SalvinoGlauco OnoratoRoberta discovers the corpse of a young woman while driving down a remote country road late at night. Roberta reports the incident to the police, but the corpse disappears from the crime scene. Is Roberta insane? Or is someone trying to drive her crazy?Tense instalment of Door Into Darkness from Dario Argento.
- DirectorJosé Antonio Nieves CondeStarsMarisa MellSylva KoscinaStephen BoydA seductive woman gets involved in relationships with several people. All of the characters play games of deceit with one another and things get more and more dangerous.Cool, chic and breezy thriller, starring Marisa Mell and Sylvia Koscina.
- DirectorRomolo GuerrieriStarsEwa AulinJean SorelLucia BosèA man is shot in an underground car-park by a mysterious bearded man. As he dies he recollects the events that led him to this situation, including adulterous liaisons and jealous envy.Dreamy and breezy thriller. Edited together in a non-chronological way. Benefits from the presence of the ludicrously cute Ewa Aulin.
- DirectorRoberto Bianchi MonteroStarsFarley GrangerSylva KoscinaSilvano TranquilliA serial killer is on the loose. His victims are unfaithful wives and he always leaves compromising photographs at the crime scene.Classic style giallo with the sex and violence ramped up a bit.
- DirectorUmberto LenziStarsMartine BrochardJohn RichardsonInes PellegriniA maniac killer in a red cape and hood is killing off American tourists on a tour bus by gouging out their eyeballs.Umberto Lenzi directs this insane murder mystery about a red-caped maniac picking off tourists travelling around on a bus. They don't let the trifling affair of serial murder actually stop them catching the sights along the way though. And wait until you see the insane ending.
- DirectorSilvio AmadioStarsJenny TamburiSilvano TranquilliRosalba NeriAfter the death of her mother, which was ruled as suicide, a teenage girl comes back home to find her mother's husband, and a female photographer, occupying the house. But nothing is as it seems.Beautifully photographed giallo similar to the late 60's deadly love triangle variety. Also includes the legendary 'Iena Sequence' theme by Roberto Pregadio.
- DirectorUmberto LenziStarsRobert HoffmannSuzy KendallIvan RassimovYoung couple interrupted during intimacy by disturbing discovery of a mutilated mannequin at beach ruins. Mysterious man present flees before being questioned, leaving couple unsettled and the night's events unresolved.Convoluted craziness from Umberto Lenzi. With manikins. Gloriously bonkers.
- DirectorLuciano ErcoliStarsDagmar LassanderPier Paolo CapponiSimón AndreuThe wife of a struggling businessman is blackmailed by a mysterious man into having a sadistic affair with him, or he will leak evidence implicating her husband of murder.A very stylish old school giallo with a really lush Morricone score. It's chock-full of far-out early 70's Italian fashions too. Gloriously of it's time.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsCristina MarsillachIan CharlesonUrbano BarberiniA young opera singer is stalked by a deranged fan bent on killing the people associated with her to claim her for himself.Great set-pieces and very bloody killings but incredibly daft also. It has it's fair share of iconic moments and also has one of the most notoriously barmy endings in the sub-genre.
- DirectorSergio MartinoStarsClaudio CassinelliMel FerrerLia TanziWhile investigating the brutal murder of a young prostitute, a detective uncovers a sex-trafficking ring with connections to powerful people.Quirky hybrid of poliziottechi, comedy and giallo. Surprisingly, it works pretty well, with an involving mystery, some good set-pieces and a decent cast.
- DirectorUmberto LenziStarsCarroll BakerJean SorelLuis DávilaA troubled race-car driver plots to kill her ex-husband at the behest of his new wife, but their scheme quickly goes awry.Beautiful photography, lush score and an agreeably breezy atmosphere are the order of the day in this stylish old school giallo from the Umberto Lenzi/Caroll Baker team up.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsChristopher RydellAsia ArgentoPiper LaurieA young man tries to help a teenage girl find the serial killer who murdered her parents before the killer comes after them.An enjoyable later giallo from Argento. Not as good as his earlier output certainly but it improves on rewatches and has some pleasingly demented moments.
- DirectorLuciano ErcoliStarsNieves NavarroSimón AndreuPeter MartellDuring a drug-fuelled photoshoot, a model witnesses a brutal murder in the apartment opposite hers, and is forced to become an amateur sleuth to unravel the mystery.Really silly giallo starring Susan Scott. It's convoluted and it's highly camp. Begins with a great acid trip scene and ends with a cheese-tastic climatic rooftop fight.
- DirectorGiuseppe BennatiStarsRosanna SchiaffinoChris AvramEva CzemerysPatrick Davenant invites a group of friends and his daughter to his family-owned theater. Within a short time, the guests realize that they are trapped. A masked killer begins to murder them one by one.A group of jet-setters indulge in sex, violence and melodrama in a deserted theatre. Supernatural gothic horror combines with typical giallo mayhem.
- DirectorMario BavaStarsJohn SaxonLetícia RománValentina CorteseA mystery novel-loving American tourist witnesses a murder in Rome, and soon finds herself and her suitor caught up in a series of killings.The first giallo ever made. Very restrained by the genre's subsequent standards. This plays more like an Italian version of a Hitchcockian thriller. But the seeds of the genre are here for sure.
- DirectorFrancisco Lara PolopStarsAnalía GadéIda GalliAndrés ResinoA couple lost in thick fog, take refuge in an old mansion next to a cemetery, and strange things start to happen.A giallo/supernatural crossover item from Spain, starring Evelyn Stewart. Some pretty stylish direction and at least one quality fright scene.
- DirectorAlberto NegrinStarsFabio TestiChristine KaufmannIvan DesnyA detective investigating the murder of a teenage girl begins to focus his suspicions on the three girlfriends of the victim, who call themselves "The Inseparables."The third and final entry in the school-girl giallo trilogy started with Solange and continued with What Have They Done to Your Daughters. This is the least of the three but still very good.
- DirectorLuigi BazzoniFranco RosselliniStarsPeter BaldwinSalvo RandoneValentina CorteseWhile visiting his favorite resort town during the off-season, a novelist investigates the apparent suicide of a woman he was infatuated with.Moody, early proto-giallo set in an off-season holiday town.
- DirectorLuigi ComenciniStarsMarcello MastroianniJacqueline BissetJean-Louis TrintignantThe investigation of the murder of ambiguous architect Garrone takes Police Commissioner Santamaria to the Turinese high society, but the results are unclear. In the meanwhile, another murder takes place.A compelling mystery with some very bizarre moments. Marcello Mastroianni in a room full of giant dildos anyone?
- DirectorFlavio MogheriniStarsRay MillandDalila Di LazzaroMichele PlacidoIn Australia, a retired police inspector is called to duty to solve the murder case of a young woman whose partially-burned body has been found on the beach.A somewhat unique entry that is based on an actual real notorious mystery known as the Pyjama Girl Murder. Also different in having a more ambitious structure to most.
- DirectorAntonio BidoStarsLino CapolicchioStefania CasiniCraig HillThe body of a schoolgirl is found in a meadow. The murderer is never caught, and years later, a young man named Stefano returns to the island and is reunited with his brother, the local priest.A very good late 70's Venice set giallo from Antonio Bido. Maybe a bit overlong and slightly more serious in tone than most but still serves up the requisite thrills.
- DirectorMario BavaStarsStephen ForsythDagmar LassanderLaura BettiA cleaver-wielding bridal designer murders various young brides-to-be in an attempt to unlock a repressed childhood trauma.Mario Bava's stylish supernatural giallo, is naturally a must. An immoral man is haunted by a ghost and it all ends in tears.
- DirectorLucio FulciStarsJack HedleyAlmanta SuskaHoward RossA burned-out New York police detective teams up with a college psychoanalyst to track down a vicious serial killer randomly stalking and killing various young women around the city.Arguably the most repulsively violent of all gialli. It certainly lacks any kind of restraint but is quite effectively frightening in places.
- DirectorMino GuerriniStarsFranco NeroGioia PascalErika BlancA young count living with his domineering mother spirals into madness after his mother and fiancée are killed by his jealous, lovesick servant.Visually inventive effort, which is like Psycho on steroids.
- DirectorFrancesco MazzeiStarsRenzo MontagnaniBedy MorattiEva CzemerysA sexually-promiscuous priest is stabbed to death inside a church.More serious-minded, mystery-driven effort. Pretty unusual ending by the genre's standards as well.
- DirectorPaolo CavaraStarsCorinne CléryMichele PlacidoQuinto ParmeggianiA man is strangled by a female prostitute in his home at the same time as a woman is killed by a man with a spanner on an empty bus. In both cases the killer leaves an illustration from the children's book titled 'Shockheaded Peter'. The subsequent investigation leads to an exclusive club called Wildlife's Friends.A series of killings revolve around a group of unsympathetic members of an exclusive club who indulge in sex-parties and...zoology. Also notable for the inclusion of a strange and wild looking erotic cartoon by Gibba. Hilariously, this film is also known as 'Bloody Peanuts'.
- DirectorRiccardo FredaStarsStefano PatriziMartine BrochardHenri GarcinA scandal from Michael's past emerges when he visits his mother's house with the director and others from a recent film project.Decent hybrid of the American slasher and the Italian horror film. This was Riccardo Fredda's final film.
- DirectorSergio PastoreStarsAnthony SteffenSylva KoscinaGiovanna LenziA blind pianist tries to figure out who is responsible for a string of murders using a black cat with its claws dipped in curare.The winner of the giallo with the most insane murder method ever. I'll leave it at that and allow you to experience that particular eccentricity all on your own.
- DirectorLamberto BavaStarsAndrea OcchipintiAnny PapaFabiola ToledoA killer stalks a composer staying at a posh Tuscany villa while writing the score to a horror film which has an incriminating clue to the killer's identity.Lamberto Bava serves up a violent slasher/giallo which is actually fairly scary at times.
- DirectorUmberto LenziStarsIrene PapasRay LovelockOrnella MutiTwo hippies find themselves on the run from the law and soon end up going undercover in a villa owned by a mysterious woman.A counter-culture crime thriller from Umberto Lenzi, that taps into the then popular idea of young, doomed, criminal lovers on the road.
- DirectorCesare CanevariStarsDimitri NabokovMaria Luisa GeisbergerBen SalvadorFour notorious bank robbers - Klaus from Germany, Albert from France, Juan from Spain and Carina from Tangiers meet up in an isolated Castle to divide a large number of diamonds hidden there by their formerMore of a glamorous crime flick with a giallo element. Watch a group of high-end thieves assemble at a remote, only for murder s to kick off immediately. Quite a bit of fun.
- DirectorAntonio MargheritiStarsMark DamonEleonora BrownSally SmithAfter a mysterious trunk arrives at a prestigious girl's boarding school, its staff and students - including an orphaned heiress and an amateur sleuth - are targeted by a shadowy killer.Despite the lurid title, this is a giallo which could be described as 'breezy'. Quite a good example of the way that 60's gialli tended to be quite playful.
- DirectorLeón KlimovskyStarsPaul NaschyErika BlancÁngel ArandaA killer is cleaning up the streets of Milan by murdering those considered as deviant. An ornamental dragonfly, soaked in the blood of the victim, is left on each body.Paul Naschy stars in this convoluted Spanish giallo that pretends its an Italian product.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsAsia ArgentoThomas KretschmannMarco LeonardiA young policewoman slowly goes insane while tracking down an elusive serial rapist/killer through Italy when she herself becomes a victim of the brutal man's obsession.A mixed bag from Dario Argento. The Stendhal Syndrome material is really good but it's under-used. Also, this one's a little bit too sleazy for it's own good at times. Overlong too
- DirectorAndrea BianchiStarsEdwige FenechNino CastelnuovoFemi BenussiWhen a model dies during an abortion, a series of murders begins, starting with her doctor. The killer wears a suit and a black motorcycle helmet. Will anyone discover the killer's identity before the entire agency dies?If you like your gialli trashy this may be the one for you. The title really says it all.
- DirectorPiero SciumèStarsMarisa MellPhilippe LeroyLea MassariA couple of blackmailers abduct a child from a married couple as a means of coercing the banker husband into funneling a huge sum of cash in their direction.Blackmail is at the centre of this compelling Stockholm set psychological thriller which benefits from the presence of the sensual Marisa Mell.
- DirectorAntonio MargheritiStarsJane BirkinHiram KellerFrançoise ChristopheIn a small Scottish village, horribly murdered bodies keep turning up. Suspicion falls upon the residents of a nearby castle that is haunted by a curse involving a killer cat.Derivative in some ways, unusual in others. A somewhat unique period set gothic giallo set-up. There are seven murders and the cat sees all.
- DirectorRenato PolselliStarsMickey HargitayRita CalderoniRaul LovecchioA respected psychologist who regularly works with the police becomes a suspect in a series of gruesome murders of young women.Crazed and depraved trash-fest about a psychopath called Herbert. Very violent and kinky. Good music. Bizarre dialogue - 'I am a hyena!!!'. They don't make 'em like this any more that's for sure.
- DirectorMaurizio PradeauxStarsLeonard MannRobert WebberVera KrouskaAn Italian fashion photographer is travelling on the Istanbul-Athens train. A woman is murdered with the photographer's letter-opener so that makes him the main suspect. With the help of his Swedish girlfriend he starts investigating in order to prove his innocence.This Greek-Italian effort is a bit heavy on the comedy but it still gets the job done with all the requisite ingredients. It has an memorable killer reveal sequence too.
- DirectorEmilio MiragliaStarsAnthony SteffenMarina MalfattiEnzo TarascioA rich, mentally-unstable man - with a penchant for playing deadly S&M games with women who resemble his dead wife - sparks off a chain of bizarre events after getting remarried.This one's a giallo/neo-gothic hybrid about a pervy aristocrat who lures women to his stately house to have his wicked way with them.
- DirectorRamón FernándezStarsNadiuskaArturo FernándezJean SorelA wealthy woman is implicated in a series of murders, when a company appears to be in trouble and former associates of the board reappear.Good Spanish entry about love triangles and deceit.
- DirectorRiccardo FredaStarsLuigi PistilliDagmar LassanderAnton DiffringA corpse is found in the trunk of a car that belongs to the Swiss ambassador to the UK. Speculations run wild, as more people around the ambassador keep falling victim to the vicious killer. A former detective is hired to investigate.This one stands out from the crowd for having the unusual characteristic of being set in Ireland. Although the 'Dublin' here is a not entirely convincing one! It ends in scenes of commendably inspired mayhem.
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsMax von SydowStefano DionisiChiara CaselliA retired police detective and a young amateur sleuth team up to find a serial killer who's resumed a killing spree in Turin, Italy after a 17-year period.Something of a return to form for Dario Argento. Not vintage stuff but one of the few worthwhile post 80's gialli out there.
- DirectorStelvio MassiStarsFrancis MatthewsPascale RivaultGiorgio AlbertazziA reporter comes home from an overseas assignment to find his baby in the hospital and his wife dead.Fairly standard giallo mystery but notable for the inclusion of some particularly sleazy and gruesome murder scenes.
- DirectorAlberto De MartinoStarsStuart WhitmanJohn SaxonMartin LandauAfter his younger sister is poisoned, a tough Ottawa cop embarks on a violent journey through Montreal to find her killer, which turns into a whirlpool of revenge and betrayal.An action-thriller with a giallo element. A great car chase and some pleasingly bizarre set-pieces.
- DirectorRomolo GuerrieriStarsCarroll BakerJean SorelIda GalliA sexy newlywed couple visits the husband's hometown in Geneva, where they are subjected to threats stemming from the death of his former fiancée.Giallo regulars Baker, Sorel, Pistilli and Stewart star in this old school Italian thriller with solid twists and turns right up to the end. It's got twists and its got Twister.
- DirectorGianfranco PiccioliStarsGianni GarkoCarroll BakerIvano StaccioliA wealthy doctor Andrea Valenti (Gianni Garko) accidentally kills his mistress, then the doctor falls victim of blackmail.Convoluted psychological giallo thriller about dark events surrounding an unsympathetic surgeon. Includes an evocative opening underwater sequence.
- DirectorDuccio TessariStarsRaf ValloneFrank WolffGabriele TintiA compassionate police captain searches for a mentally challenged 25 year old daughter of a widower, who's been kidnapped and forced into prostitution.Poliziotteschi/giallo combo with stronger characterisation than normal. Pretty good mystery.
- DirectorCarlos AuredStarsPaul NaschyDiana LorysEduardo CalvoAn ex-convict, troubled by dreams that he strangles women, is hired as the caretaker on an estate owned by three very strange sisters. Soon after his arrival, a serial killer begins slaughtering blonde, blue-eyed women and leaving their eyeballs in a bowl of water.Paul Naschy wrote this and star in this Spanish take on the giallo. It takes its time to get going but wraps things up in the final sections with some agreeable psychotronic nonsense.
- DirectorUmberto LenziStarsCarroll BakerAlan ScottIda GalliA mute woman finds herself at the center of a series of murders in the mountains of Spain, which police suspect are being committed by a drug-addled Satanist.Surprisingly restrained effort from Umberto Lenzi, that follows the same basic plot idea as the classic 40's thriller, The Spiral Staircase.
- DirectorVittorio SindoniStarsTom DrakeFemi BenussiVirgilio GazzoloThe death of a surprisingly rich railroad worker leads to mysterious murders within his testamentary heirs.Like the majority of the 60's gialli, this is a fairly restrained affair. It benefits, however, from a nice score and locations; while it was very good to have giallo regular actress Femi Benussi given a lead role for a change.
- DirectorArmando CrispinoStarsMimsy FarmerBarry PrimusRay LovelockA young pathology doctor interning in a morgue tries to cope with a wave of suicides. A woman she just met kills herself, but she suspects someone close to her might have killed her.A little slow movie but it has some excellent moments, such as the opening suicides and morgue scenes. Definitely a little bit different.
- DirectorJulio BuchsStarsBrett HalseyMarilù ToloFabrizio MoroniAn off-duty sailor investigates the seemingly-unrelated suicides of his sister and her music teacher, and with the aid of the sister's friend and the teacher's nephew, discovers a link between their deaths and London's hippie scene.A combination of giallo mystery with counter-culture hippies - what's not to like?
- DirectorRiccardo FredaStarsKlaus KinskiChristiane KrügerGünther StollAfter a businessman's unfaithful wife is seemingly killed in a car accident, he is led by several unscrupulous characters to believe that she is actually alive.An example of a krimi/giallo crossover, starring Klaus Kinski. Definitely a product of the late 60's variety, with a more restrained approach and a dash of psychedelia. It features a nicely OTT ending.
- DirectorCarlo VanzinaStarsTom SchanleyRenée SimonsenNicola PerringA park ranger from Wyoming, whose twin sister is a fashion model in Milan, Italy, strongly senses that his sister is in mortal danger. Once he arrives in Milan, he discovers that his sister has disappeared.Slick and glossy De Palma influenced effort. Involving and enjoyable.
- DirectorRomano ScavoliniStarsIda GalliLuigi PistilliIvan RassimovA woman, who witnessed her father kill himself as a child, invites several friends to her husband's secluded castle. Unbeknownst to them, she has a sinister motive for the invitation.Gothic/giallo crossover which has several jet-setters larking about in a castle before things start going pear-shaped.