Although Gelato is an art form unto itself, I have gathered you all here today to discuss Giallo. Giallo, which means yellow in italian, is a genre of literature, which grew in popularity in the former half of the 20th century before making its foray into cinema. The genre derived its name from the color of the covers of the cheap paperback novels filled with crime, terror, and eroticism. I haven't read any of those books, unfortunately, and to be honest, I haven't seen an official giallo film either, although I have seen Italian horror films (Suspiria!!!), that immediately followed giallo, by filmmakers who became famous in the genre. I know what you're probably thinking: How the hell are you going to talk about a filmic movement that you don't really know? Well, to answer your doubts, I haven't watched the films (yet), but I have studied the genre, so I am at least somewhat familiar with its specifications.
The reasons why I like the genre (and those that followed it) are because they - in following the traditions of grand guignol - are extremely dramatic and over-stylized, to the point where reality is manipulated, colors accentuated, in order to emphasize drama and tension. Helping it along is usually a rather odd, creepy film score that really amplifies the mood of unease. The films also tend to feature a hefty amount of violence coupled with healthy dose of sex(uality). I think I appreciate these movies artistically because they don't pretend to be anything they're not. They work by inciting a physical and psychological response from the spectator. They are, simply enough, beautiful horror movies.
For more information, please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giallo
