Giallo-Ween: Giallo Films To Die For This October
Every year when October rolls around, most folks will begin planning out their horror movie marathons for the Halloween season. With such a vast library of films to pick from, I often still see a lot of marathons center around some mainstays, whether in film series or genre.
Slashers, supernatural horror, and Halloween themed horror all find themselves at the top of most lists. Classic series like Halloween, Scream, and Nightmare on Elm St also light up the screens around the globe at this time of year as well.
All of it is a solid choice to make that late October triple feature at home fit the mood. However, I would like to offer up a suggestion that I don't see as much that also screams Halloween just as much as any other horror genre. I suggest everyone, at least once, have a Giallo-ween marathon.
Yes, the classic Giallo films can really be a great way to change it up and still get the spooks and slaughter that the Halloween season demand. The gritty and colorful murder-mystery-horror-thrillers with absolute banging soundtracks are a real treat for any movie marathon. Giallo films themselves are often described as the foundations on which the classic slashers of the ‘80s were built on, so it only makes sense to visit the genre at this time of the year.
Now, when getting into Giallo films, everyone has varied opinions. The films themselves can be quite dynamic, and some get lost in the fray as other notable films take front and center. Yes, the original Suspiria is amazing and is a perfect fit for this. But if you have already seen it, where do you go from there?
Let me at least get you pointed in the right direction. I offer some classics from the Giallo greats, and some other ones that live in the fringe of the Giallo genre but still are worth the watch.
Blood and Black Lace (1964, Mario Bava) - Often thought of as the first great Giallo, this film is bloody and brutal whodunit with some great sequences. A great starting point for anyone looking to get into the Giallo genre.
Deep Red (1975, Dario Argento) - Argento has many options for this list, but this one has always been a favorite of mine. The chaos of a musician trying to solve the murder of a psychic takes many macabre twists and turns that lead to a chilling conclusion.
Torso (1973, Sergio Martino) - The Italian title for this film is translated as "The Bodies Bear Traces of Carnal Violence" and to me that is one of the best titles ever. The film lives up to it as a hooded killer strangles women on a university campus with a tell tale red and black scarf.
The House That Screamed (1969, Narciso Ibanez Serrador) - A Spanish addition to a normally Italian genre, this moody and atmospheric Giallo concerns a boarding school for wayward girls who start to get picked off one by one. Gothic undertones help make this film stick out.
Pieces (1982, Juan Piquer Simon) - A true hybrid of a Giallo and a classic slasher, women on a college campus are being dismembered by a chainsaw wielding assailant. Boasting the classic Giallo villain look of trench coat and black gloves, it is a violent and erotic film not for the faint of heart.
Knife Of Ice (1972, Umberto Lenzi) - A brutal mystery with tons of plot twists, this film follows a mute woman who is being stalked by a crazed block glove wearing lunatic. The story is fraught with sexual intensity and occult dealings.
Now, these are six films I highly suggest, but there are so many more within the genre that really are cinematic rollercoasters. Yes, they are older films, mostly with poorly dubbed audio and sometimes very low budget effects, but they are a definitive part of the horror genre. Take a chance, get wrapped up in a murder mystery with a blazing Italian soundtrack this Halloween season. You might just find it to be a new tradition in the making.
