Giallo

Giallo is a uniquely Italian film genre that blends mystery, horror, and eroticism into a visually striking and psychologically charged style. The term “Giallo” (meaning “yellow” in Italian) comes from the yellow covers of mid-20th-century pulp crime novels published in Italy. Emerging in the 1960s, Giallo films typically revolve around brutal murders, mysterious killers often dressed in black gloves, and a mix of psychological tension and stylized violence. Characterized by vivid color palettes, haunting soundtracks (often by composers like Ennio Morricone or Goblin), and complex, sometimes surreal plots, the Giallo laid the groundwork for the later American slasher films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Directors such as Mario Bava, Dario Argento, and Lucio Fulci turned Giallo into an art form, exploring the darker corners of desire, identity, and fear. Today, Giallo remains celebrated for its hypnotic visuals, daring storytelling, and influence on generations of horror filmmakers.