Happy Goat Horror

Giallo’s Cultural Impact

“Giallo didn’t exist in a vacuum. Its echoes can be found in the slasher films that followed and even in modern horror. Let’s see where it left its mark.”

Giallo’s influence on the horror genre is undeniable. While the films of the ’60s and ’70s were often seen as niche or sensationalistic, their impact has rippled through the decades, shaping the slasher genre and inspiring countless filmmakers around the world. The visual style, narrative structure, and the deep psychological themes of giallo laid the groundwork for modern horror, and its DNA can still be found in films made today.

The Slasher Genre’s Roots in Giallo

It’s often said that Halloween (1978) marked the beginning of the slasher boom, but it’s impossible to ignore the heavy influence of giallo in the film. Director John Carpenter, a self-professed fan of Italian horror, incorporated the tense atmosphere, voyeuristic perspective, and masked killer tropes that were staples of giallo into Halloween. The film’s simple yet effective formula—an anonymous killer stalking a group of teenagers—resembles the slow-burn, mystery-driven structure of many giallo films.

In fact, Halloween’s Michael Myers shares more than just his affinity for masks with giallo’s killers; his unrelenting pursuit of victims and the way the audience is kept in suspense about his motivations are directly influenced by the giallo tradition. The emphasis on building tension through music, lighting, and framing—so prominent in Argento’s works—also found its way into the mechanics of the slasher genre.

Following Halloween, films like Friday the 13th (1980) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) continued this trend, refining the formula with their own unique twists but still borrowing heavily from the visual and thematic elements established by giallo.

Modern Homages: Giallo’s Influence Today

While giallo might seem like a relic of the past, its influence is very much alive in modern horror. Films like Berberian Sound Studio (2012), The Strage Colour of your Body’s Tears (2013), and The Neon Demon (2016) are all love letters to giallo, channeling its distinct style and themes while modernizing them for new audiences.

Berberian Sound Studio is a particularly fascinating tribute to giallo, as it follows a British sound engineer working on an Italian horror film. The movie evokes the atmosphere of 1970s giallo through its unsettling sound design, creeping tension, and a slow unraveling of its protagonist’s mental state. The film’s use of color, surreal imagery, and psychological horror mirror the best qualities of the genre.

The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears, directed by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, might not be a conventional giallo, but it shares much of the genre’s essence. The film is an immersive, visually rich experience that blends mystery, psychological horror, and surrealism. With its complex narrative, disorienting imagery, and striking use of color, it’s a modern film that continues giallo’s tradition of blending beauty and brutality in unsettling ways.

Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon is another example, using vibrant colors, stylish fashion, and a haunting soundtrack to create a film that’s both a nod to giallo and a meditation on the beauty and brutality of the fashion industry. While not a direct giallo, it’s clear that Refn borrows from the genre’s love of surrealism, psychological depth, and visual extravagance.

Why Giallo’s DNA Is Still Alive Today

What makes giallo so enduring in modern horror is its exploration of psychological terror, its fixation on the darker side of human nature, and its ability to blend beauty and brutality in a visually stunning package. Even though the genre may have fallen out of the mainstream spotlight, its influence can still be felt in both indie and blockbuster horror films. The giallo ethos—suspense over gore, mystery over straight horror—has evolved, but its core principles continue to influence directors who want to play with form and structure in new ways.

Mini Reviews: Classic Meets Modern

• Deep Red (1975) vs. The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears (2013)
  Deep Red is a labyrinthine thriller that keeps the audience guessing with its series of increasingly complex clues and shocking murders. Similarly, The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears channels the giallo spirit with its stylistic flourishes, intricate narrative, and surreal visuals. The film, like Argento’s work, relies on disorienting, vivid cinematography and a deeply atmospheric tone that creates an almost nightmarish dreamscape.
• The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) vs. Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
  In The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Dario Argento’s debut film, a simple whodunit evolves into a visually arresting, tension-filled journey. In Berberian Sound Studio, director Peter Strickland channels that same sense of creeping dread, but through sound design rather than imagery, drawing inspiration from the giallo tradition in its slow, methodical approach to terror.

Part 4:
“Having explored giallo’s cultural legacy, we now turn to your ultimate giallo watchlist. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned fan, we’ll guide you through the essential films you need to see. Ready to dive in?”