[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/giallofilms.jpg]]

A cycle of stylish, psychosexually loaded Italian crime films which peaked sometime in the [[The70s late '70s]]. The name means "yellow," and refers to the yellow covers of the [[PulpMagazine pulp detective novels]] that were adapted into the first of the films. Gialli are generally plotted as "puzzle" mysteries (with either [[PoliceProcedural police]] or [[AmateurSleuth amateurs]] investigating), but with a heavy admixture of [[HorrorTropes horror]] and thriller elements.

Major directors of gialli include Creator/DarioArgento, Creator/MarioBava, and Creator/LucioFulci.

Many American movies have been influenced by gialli. These include ''Film/BasicInstinct'', ''Film/KillBill, Vol. 2'' (when it isn't being a SpaghettiWestern), ''Film/Se7en'', the ''Film/{{Hostel}}'' movies, and most of Creator/BrianDePalma’s filmography. {{Slasher Movie}}s have their roots in the giallo sensibility, as well. All quite appropriate, considering the ''considerable'' stylistic influence the genre draws from Creator/AlfredHitchcock--to the point that many have deemed Hitch [[UrExample the unofficial "father"]] [[TropeMaker of Giallo cinema.]]

And now you too can create your own, with the [[http://www.braineater.com/misc/giallo_intro.html Do-It-Yourself Giallo Kit.]]

A related genre is the German "krimis".

!!Common tropes include:
[[index]]
* AcquittedTooLate
* AnimalMotifs: Movie titles often include animals or insects, like ''The Bird with the Crystal Plumage'' or ''Black Belly of the Tarantula''.
* ConspicuousTrenchcoat: the default outfit for Giallo killers is a black leather coat with matching fedora and gloves, and sometimes a mask
* DropDeadGorgeous
* EveryoneIsASuspect
* FakeNationality: If the film's set anywhere but Italy, it's a guarantee that there's several of these (and even then [[Film/TheBirdWithTheCrystalPlumage there]] [[Film/DontTortureADuckling are]] [[Film/{{Tenebre}} exceptions]]).
* FilmNoir: Somewhat comparable to this genre, but much more colorful, surreal, and gory.
* FreudianExcuse
* TheseGlovesAreMadeForKillin
* GoingByTheMatchbook
* HandOfDeath: Almost always the black-gloved version.
* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: Murders often done toward {{Fanservice}} female characters
* KensingtonGore
* MoodLighting
* MotiveRant
* NeverOneMurder
* PeekABooCorpse
* PoliceAreUseless: if the main character is a civilian trying to solve the murders on their own, the cops will ''never'' figure it out first
* ProductPlacement: Specifically, bottles of J&B blended scotch whisky are so commonplace in giallo that they've turned into something of an EasterEgg or RunningGag with fans.
* QuirkyWork
* RedHerring: Frequently found in mystery films, but in addition:
** CreepyRedHerring: The psychosexual focus of gialli frequently results in characters that are built up to be ''clearly'' extremely suspicious, creepy and weird, yet end up dead like any other victim, without so much as a HandWave as to their odd behavior.
* SerialKiller
* SexSignalsDeath
* SceneryPorn: brutal killings are often contrasted against stunning architecture and landscapes
* TheSummation
** Often requires either a MotiveRant or AfterActionVillainAnalysis to make sense of why the murders happened
* WordSaladTitle
[[/index]]

!!Giallo films:
[[index]]
* ''{{Film/Autopsy|1975}}'' (1975)
* ''Film/ABayOfBlood''
* ''Film/TheBirdWithTheCrystalPlumage''
* ''Film/TheBlackBellyOfTheTarantula''
* ''Film/BloodAndBlackLace''
* ''Film/TheCaseOfTheBloodyIris''
* ''Film/TheCatONineTails''
* ''Film/DeathLaidAnEgg''
* ''Film/DeathWalksOnHighHeels''
* ''Film/DeepRed''
* ''Film/DontLookNow''
* ''Film/DontTortureADuckling''
* ''Film/FiveDollsForAnAugustMoon''
* ''Film/FourFliesOnGreyVelvet''
* ''Film/GialloInVenice''
* ''Film/TheGirlWhoKnewTooMuch1963''
* ''Film/TheHouseWithLaughingWindows''
* ''{{Film/Inferno|1980}}''
* ''Film/KnifeForTheLadies''
* ''Film/TheNewYorkRipper''
* ''Film/NightmareBeach''
* ''Film/NineGuestsForACrime''
* ''Film/{{Opera|1987}}''
* ''Film/{{Phenomena}}''
* ''Film/ThePoliceAreBlunderingInTheDark''
* ''Film/IlProfumoDellaSignoraInNero''
* ''Film/{{Puzzle}}''
* ''Film/SevenMurdersForScotlandYard''
* ''Film/SoSweetSoDead''
* ''Film/{{Tenebre}}''
* ''Film/TooBeautifulToDie''
* ''Film/{{Torso}}''
* ''Film/{{Trauma}} (1993)''
* ''Film/{{Watch Me When I Kill}}''
* ''Film/WhatHaveYouDoneToSolange''

!!Giallo {{homage}}s:
* ''Film/AliceSweetAlice''
* ''Film/AmericanNightmare1983''
* ''Film/BasicInstinct''
* ''Film/BerberianSoundStudio'' - literally set during the making of a giallo film
* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodwash}}''
* ''Film/BloodyMoon''
* ''Film/TheBurning''
* ''Film/CityInPanic''
* ''Film/{{Cruising}}''
* ''Literature/TheDarkHalf''
* ''Film/DontOpenTillChristmas''
* ''Film/DressedToKill''
* ''Film/EyesOfLauraMars''
* ''Film/TheGoreGoreGirls''
* ''Film/{{Hostel}}''
* ''Film/IKnowWhoKilledMe''
* ''Film/KillBill, Volume 2''
* ''Film/KnifeAndHeart''
* ''Film/KnightMoves''
* ''Film/LastNightInSoho''
* ''Film/{{Malignant}}''
* ''Film/{{Maxxxine}}''
* ''Film/NightAfterNightAfterNight''
* ''Film/NightSchool1981''
* ''Film/{{Pieces}}''
* ''Film/{{Schizo}}''
* ''Film/Se7en''
* ''Film/TheToolboxMurders''
* ''Film/Unhinged1982''
[[/index]]

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