Every culture puts its own unique spin on horror tropes, with people from different times and places being frightened by different things. One of the most fascinating examples of this occurred during the 60s-70s in Italy, with a group of genre filmmakers collectively deciding that, to them, horror meant gory whodunnits with surreal visuals and blood that looked more like paint than corn syrup.
And while that initial Giallo movement has long since faded into obscurity (with modern audiences being less receptive to obvious dubbing and cheesy practical effects), there are still some intrepid filmmakers out there who are attempting to keep the spirit of the genre alive with neo-Giallo productions meant to remind us that horror movies don’t always have to be realistic. And in honor of these stylishly retro features, we’ve decided to come up with a list celebrating six modern-day Giallo flicks for your viewing pleasure.
After all, there’s nothing quite like watching stylish murder to the tune of Italian progressive rock!
As usual, don’t forget to comment below with your own neo-Giallo favorites if you think we missed a particularly fun one.
With that out of the way, onto the list…
6. The Last Matinee (2020)
From a mysterious killer wearing black gloves to a deliciously meta location brought to life through colorful lighting, Maximiliano Contenti’s The Last Matinee boasts all the classic Giallo tropes that we’ve come to know and love. However, this Latin-American co-production is a lot more than a simple re-hash of its inspirations, with the film also serving as a heartfelt salute to the traditional moviegoing experience itself.
After all, the majority of the flick takes place inside an aging movie theater as a vicious murderer takes advantage of the distractions on the big screen in order to dispatch his victims in increasingly absurd ways – always making sure to collect their eyeballs in a clever nod to the importance of visual storytelling.
5. The Old Man in the Rocking Chair (2022)
We don’t usually include short films on these lists due to their limited availability (I mean, what’s the point of recommending a movie if it’s only available on the festival circuit?), but Eric Yoder’s The Old Man in the Rocking Chair is currently streaming for free on YouTube – and it also happens to be one of the most entertaining flicks on this list.
A retro love-letter to the great Giallo features of yore, this short combines all the classic genre staples (from neon red blood to POV murders) with an absurd original story that would have been right at home on 1970s cinema screens. The short also repurposes music from artists like Goblin and even Ennio Morricone, making it a must-watch for cinephiles!
4. Piercing (2018)
Nicolas Pesce’s disturbing indie thriller Piercing may have been based on a novel by Japanese author Ryū Murakami, but it’s no secret that this criminally underseen film takes most of its tonal and aesthetic inspirations from the heyday of Italian horror cinema.
Starring Christopher Abbott as a deeply troubled father who decides to take out his homicidal urges on a prostitute (played by Mia Wasikowska) in order to protect his own family, Piercing relies less on gore and more on the inherent psychological tension of its cat-and-mouse premise (not to mention the dreamlike atmosphere) in order to entertain viewers.
And did I mention that the flick also includes Goblin on the soundtrack?
3. Knife+Heart (2018)
Telling a surprisingly poignant story about a 1970s gay porn producer who discovers that her crew is being stalked by a vengeful masked killer, Yann Gonzalez’s Knife+Heart features a perfect blend of retro exploitation and modern genre sensibilities.
While it’s a bit less surreal (and a lot sleazier) than most legitimate Giallo productions, Gonzalez’s film stands out by making the story surrounding the over-the-top murders nearly as interesting as the genre elements – especially when you consider that Vanessa Paradis’ main character is based on the real-life adult filmmaker Anne-Marie Tensi.
2. The Editor (2014)
Adam Brooks’ and Mathew Kennedy’s retro horror-comedy The Editor shouldn’t be your first Giallo experience, but it’s still one hell of an entertaining ride through the dark side of filmmaking – as well as a passionate love-letter to Italian genre cinema. A low-budget period piece, the film tells the tongue-in-cheek story of a troubled film editor who finds himself caught up in a bizarre murder investigation while attempting to finish post-production on his latest project.
Combining retro visuals with hilarious in-jokes and even a few creative attempts at cosmic horror, The Editor is certainly not for everyone, but it’ll definitely appeal to Giallo fans looking for something a little less serious.
1. Malignant (2022)
I’ve been scoffed at for admitting that Malignant is my favorite James Wan movie, but I can’t help but respect a filmmaker that decides to direct a big budget version of a Frank Henenlotter production immediately after breaking $1 billion at the box office with Aquaman. That being said, while Malignant clearly lifted several of its ideas from ’90s schlock, it’s pretty clear that Wan was aiming towards Giallo when the time came to develop the overall mood and tone of this oddball horror flick.
Not only does Malignant capture the surrealist flair of a classic Giallo feature (and that’s not even mentioning the over-the-top gore and sci-fi elements), but the film does so without retreading the same ground as masters like Argento and Bava – which is why I believe it earns its place at the top of the list.