Best Giallos on DVD?

[Surge92]

I have been buying a lot of giallos recently, mostly just based on plot summaries. However, after being disappointed by two of my last acquisitions, I figured I'd better ask for opinions before buying some more. I tend to prefer giallos like DEEP RED, DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING, and WHO SAW HER DIE?, which have climaxes that, in my opinion, end with a bang. Needless to say, I don't think that THE BLOOD-STAINED SHADOW and the much hyped WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE? delivered in that department. I found the endings on both films very anticlimatic and a letdown considering the great build-ups. This leads to my question. I'm planning on buying ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK and MY DEAR KILLER soon. Given my preferences, can you recommend either/both of them? Also, of the other giallos out there (both released and soon to be released on DVD), which ones do you recommend? Thanks in advance.

[dwatts]

Well, to me, "All Colors of the Dark" is stretching the term "Giallo". It's closer in tone to "Rosemary's Baby" really. Don't get me wrong, I enjyed it immensely, but it's "different".

I have "My Dear Killer", but have not gotten around to watching it yet.

Mind you, you might want to take into consideration that I think "Solange" is a brilliant film.

[Andrew]

MY DEAR KILLER is a pretty routine affair, with only a few good kill scenes but no amazing pay off. You may enjoy HOUSE WITH THE LAUGHING WINDOWS, which definitely builds up to an exciting climax, but the movie leaves me cold. I'd suggest checking out SPASMO, SHORT NIGHT OF GLASS DOLLS, and possibly SEVEN BLOOD-STAINED ORCHIDS. A search through this forum should turn up a few threads with info on each.

[Atmims]

You've probably already seen Tenebre but if not, I would recommend that one.
I remember Torso being pretty good and Solange, I wouldn't call it brilliant, but it's above average for a giallo. There's really only been a handful of giallos I actually enjoyed. Most can be so tedious.

[Surge92]

Mind you, you might want to take into consideration that I think "Solange" is a brilliant film.

I actually watched it again this morning and liked it much better the second time around. I guess I was initially disappointed by its more dramatic, as opposed to action-packed, climax, but it's definitely growing on me. Pretty soon I will be recommending it. :)

[Surge92]

You may enjoy HOUSE WITH THE LAUGHING WINDOWS, which definitely builds up to an exciting climax, but the movie leaves me cold. I'd suggest checking out SPASMO, SHORT NIGHT OF GLASS DOLLS, and possibly SEVEN BLOOD-STAINED ORCHIDS.

I recently saw SEVEN BLOOD-STAINED ORCHIDS and yes, I did enjoy it. It has some pretty neat offings (the power drill scene is a handful) and a decent climax, plus you can't go wrong with that catchy Riz Ortolani theme music. All the others are on my to-see list, specially HOUSE WITH THE LAUGHING WINDOWS.

[Anthropophagus]

I thought Torso was brilliant, I would recommend that one for sure. The DVD looked pretty good too as I can remember.

[Morg]

Tenebre, which is my favorite Argento. And I'm a huge fan of
Cat O' Nine Tails
Short Night of Glass Dolls is another favorite of mine.

[Surge92]

I thought Torso was brilliant, I would recommend that one for sure. The DVD looked pretty good too as I can remember.

I would have to see TORSO again. I saw it when Anchor Bay first released it on DVD and at the time, having just seen Deep Red, I found Torso less stylish and cheesy in comparison. Has anyone seen SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A MINOR, also by Sergio Martino? It's supposed to be in the DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING/WHO SAW HER DIE? vein and real good.

[Jason25]

I would have to see Torso again. I first saw it when Anchor Bay first released it on DVD and at the time, having just seen Deep Red, I found Torso less stylish and cheesy in comparison. Has anyone seen Suspicious Murder of a Minor, also by Sergio Martino? It's supposed to be in the Don't Torture A Duckling/Who Saw Her Die? vein and real good.

Sergio Balcazar, Jr.

Suspected Death Of A Minor is a fantastic film. Great score and the acting is impressive. It took me some time to track down a nice copy but it was well worth the search.

Highly Recommended.

[zombiexfan]

suspira was a bomb i seen it way back in the early 80's but i was young and it scared me, now i watched it last night and now it was a sleeper

[The Chaostar]

Suspiria is NOT a giallo, regardless of what you think of the film.

[wago70]

A *sleeper* in the cinematic true sense is a good thing. For example: THE GRUDGE was a hit. SHAUN OF THE DEAD is a sleeper - making money, finding its audience while the mainstream is unaware of (or sleeping through) its popularity.

[speanroc]

i find giallos need mutiple viewings to grasp the whole viewing experience, i always catch something new the second time i view them, and if u need some recommendations i would start with the master BLOOD AND BLACK LACE ,and also give THE SECRET KILLER(eyeball, wide eyed in the dark) a view, both outstanding giallos IMO.......

[dwatts]

I can't explain why i never mentioned Tenebrae earlier. I just tend to lump it in the "Argento" pile and forget it's a giallo. Definately, that's the one to go for.

Suspiria, that's great, but as Chaoster says, it ain't even close to being a giallo.

[de rossi]

My personal toplist right now...

Deep Red: 10/10
Blood and Black Lace: 10/10
Bird with the Crystal Plumage: 10/10
Tenebre: 10/10
Torso: 10/10
Twitch of the Death Nerve: 9/10
Don't Torture the Duckling: 9/10
Opera: 9/10
Case of the Bloody Iris: 9/10
7 Bloodstained Orchids: 9/10
Strip Nude for Your Killer: 9/10
House with the Laughing Windows: 9/10
My Dear Killer: 9/10
New York Ripper: 9/10
Eyeball: 9/10
Death Laid an Egg: 9/10
Sleepless: 9/10
The Killer must Kill Again: 9/10
What Have You Done To Solange?: 8/10
Case of the Scorpion's Tail: 8/10
The Card Player: 8/10
The Perfume of the Lady in Black: 8/10
Your Vice Is a Locked Door and Only I Have the Key: 8/10
Five Dolls for an August Moon: 8/10
Death Walks at Midnight: 8/10
Short Night of Glass Dolls: 8/10
Stendhal Syndrome: 7/10
Cat O'Nine Tails: 7/10
All the Colors of the Dark: 7/10
Who Saw Her Die?: 7/10
The Night Evelyn Came Out of The Grave: 7/10
Autopsy: 7/10
The Girl Who Knew Too Much: 7/10
Phantom of Death: 7/10
Cold Eyes of Fear: 7/10
Stage Fright: 7/10
Blade in the Dark: 6/10
Delirium: 6/10
Hatchet for the Honeymoon: 6/10
Photos of Gloria, Delirium: 6/10
Slaughter Hotel: 5/10
Spasmo: 5/10
Bloodstained Shadow: 5/10
Trauma: 5/10
Death Smiled at Murder: 4/10
Watch Me When I Kill: 3/10

[Coverdale]

My gialli collection:

The Best:
Blood And Black Lace
Tenebre
New York Ripper
Don't Torture A Duckling
What Have You Done To Solange?

Very good:
Opera
Deep Red

OK but not nearly as good:
Stendahl Syndrome
A Blade In the Dark

Not good:
Cold Eyes of Fear

I just bought The Killer Must Kill Again...I hope this one is good.

[RyanPC]

Here are the gialli in my collection:

A Blade in the Dark 3.5/5
Blood and Black Lace 3.5/5
The Cat O'Nine Tails 4.5/5
Phenomena 4/5
Deep Red 5/5
Don't Torture a Duckling 5/5
Opera 4/5
Tenebre 4.5/5
What Have You Done To Solange? 5/5

[de rossi]

My current reccomendations:

Eyeball.
Torso.
Seven Blood-Stained Orchids.
Death Laid an Egg.
The House with Laughing Windows.
The Case of The Bloody Iris.
Death Walks at Midnight.

[ZenAmako]

I did some digging and it appears Bava's Blood and Black Lace is currently unavailable. From what I've read, the German limited edition is the version to get, as it's anamorphic, has the correct aspect ratio, and better image quality than the American edition from VCI. Unfortunately, the German edition was limited to 1000 and is now sold out. The VCI version is also out of print. Has anyone heard anything about a possible rerelease? Is the German edition still available anywhere? Thanks.

[NewYawkRipper]

New York Ripper is (obviously) My favorite, followed closely by A Blade in the Dark, then Eyeball.

[Jason25]

New York Ripper is (obviously) My favorite, followed closely by A Blade in the Dark, then Eyeball.

2 out of 3 ain't bad!

Seriously though, A Blade In The Dark is a notch below NYR and Eyeball, but it still is an enjoyable film.

NYR is one of the best films period, Giallo or otherwise.

Death Laid An Egg gets better and better with each viewing.

We really need a DVD release of Martino's wonderful "Suspected Death Of A Minor". I think more people should see this underrated gem.

[tom smud]

"I did some digging and it appears Bava's Blood and Black Lace is currently unavailable. From what I've read, the German limited edition is the version "

tell me...what is the real purpose of "limited edition"...personally...i think that companies want to get a return quicker so having a scare tactic such as "limited edition" should ensure faster sales...

[David J.]

Has anyone seen an Italian film called "Bad Inclination" (2003) by a director named Pierfrancesco Campanella? It's supposed to be a giallo similar to Argento or Bava's. I'm skeptical, of course, but I'm curious about it anyway since you never hear about (at least I don't anyway) any newer giallo films around. The few reviews I've seen on this have been pretty mixed so far.

It also has Eva Robins from Tenebre in it, which was the "woman" from the flashback sequences in it. I didn't realize that they were a transsexual. I mean, I always thought "she" looked mannish, but I didn't know that it really was a guy. I found that out from the review over at Eccentric Cinema.