A cycle of stylish, psychosexually loaded Italian crime films which peaked sometime in the late '70s. The name means "yellow," and refers to the yellow covers of the pulp detective
novels which were adapted into the first of the films. Gialli are generally plotted as "puzzle" mysteries (with either
police or
amateurs investigating), but with a heavy admixture of
horror and thriller elements.
Major directors of gialli include
Dario Argento, Mario Bava, and
Lucio Fulci.
Many American movies have been influenced by gialli. These include
Basic Instinct,
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 (when it isn't being a
Spaghetti Western), the
Hostel movies, and pretty much anything by
Brian De Palma.
Slasher Movies from
Friday the 13th onward have appropriated bits and pieces of the giallo sensibility, as well.
And now you to can create your own, with the
Do-It-Yourself Giallo Kit
.
Common tropes include: