Giallo (2010)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Brilliant and touching

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Giallo is a movie directed by the Italian master Dario Argento, a guy whose movies seem to be getting a lot of hate recently. I really can't explain the phenomenon because his movies haven't changed a bit. He still uses the same clichés, the same type of colors, the same type of angles and the same type of nonsensical plots. One can like his style as much as one can hate it. Giallo movies are not for everyone. His recent movies inexplicably seem to be getting a lot of hate. Now, I understand that he shoots films in a pace and in a fashion that reminds us of old movies. And the reason to why he is getting so much hate is because the audience can't adapt to old-fashioned movies, and he too. But the thing is not that. Because people who claim to love his older movies, claim to hate his newer movies. I guess it will always be a mystery in my head. However, let's get the review going... "Giallo", ironically is not a giallo movie. It doesn't feature the mysterious gloved killer, neither the super fake blood, and the non-sensical plot twist. This time Dario Argento decided to make a movie grounded to reality, that is, it doesn't feature an absurd plot twist. It's a regular crime drama. With blood. Lots and lots of blood. It's an above average crime drama, but a below average giallo film. The movie is really well shot, and the acting (for the most part) is really good. The movie keeps you invested until the finale, which is great by the way. The soundtrack is great too, and it's clearly inspired by the Tintin TV Show Opening Theme. My final grade is a B- or a 7/10

Because I like this movie. After all the bad ratings and negative reviews of Argento's latest movies I was very reluctant to watch Dario's movies from 'Opera' and on wards; but after I watched 'La Terza Madre' and 'Il Cartaio' I decided to start ignoring all the bad reviews and all the comments on how "the once great Italian Horror director has declined". Indeed, it appears the only movies people wanna compare Dario Argento movies is to the other Dario Argento movies. I've grown weary of all this bitching about how he doesn't make his movies as exotic, artistic or otherworldly as he used to make them in the mid 70's to late 80's. People don't seem to want to move on and have an open mind to how a director can make movies. Sure, it is a basic plot for a Giallo movie but it is still an original story, with compelling and interesting characters. The story is thought provoking and chilling, it tells the story of an ugly man who murders beautiful women. Beautiful because he likes to destroy what he lacks: beauty. It is reminiscent of Leatherface from 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. Now, the other half of the story centers around Inspector Enzo Avolfi who is investigating the murders, who by the way, is a murderer himself. That makes for a morally ambiguous story where one wonders whether the protagonist of the movie is any better than the antagonist.Genre: thriller/horror, year of release: 2009, director: Dario Argento, writers: Jim Agnew, Sean Keller and Dario Argento, plot: catch the murderer, themes: childhood trauma, alienation, madness, sexual perversion and moral. Now, childhood trauma has often been explored in Argento's movies but here it is more in focus and gives the narrative thrust. It is in focus since the movie is more driven by the main characters and their childhood traumas. What they are doing in the movie has a lot to do with what they experienced in their childhood. Avolfi's motivation for doing what he is doing is because he witnessed his mother getting killed. Volpe is haunted by his past and in his deteriorated state of mind he is obsessed with beauty and his lack thereof. Leading him to stalk, torture and ultimately murder beautiful women. I admit I cried a little when Volpe's story was shown, an unwanted child by his mother, picked and bullied by his peers and rejected by even the Catholic Church. Volpe is such a tragic character. It appears to me this movie is more or less a character study of two men with childhood traumas. Two murderers each on their side of the Law. It evokes the question: is the man who is a murderer hunting another murderer any better? What are their differences? Volpe's motivation appears to be compulsion and desire to feel better about himself and Avolfi, I don't know, redemption? But it can be argued Avolfi wants to make sure an episode like his mother doesn't happen again.But I think I am getting a little too heavy here, anyway the violence depicted in the movie is depraved, tasteless and downright grim. It seems to be a problem for most people who complains about this solid movie. I don't see any problem with that because, although I like the bravura and operatic violence in his early movies the depravity of the violence shows there is nothing beautiful about violence. Violence is an act of atrocity which can not be justified. Also, I like how 'Giallo' is more driven by characters rather than the plot. Yes the plot is the same. Yes many of the gimmicks he used in the 70's and 80's are still the same (example: people crashing through windows, ultra violence, swooping camera etc). No, it is not as artistic as 'Suspiria' or as dreamlike as 'Opera' but it is still a thought provoking story with sensibilities beyond the typical splatter and slasher films. Come on people, be more open minded. This is a good atmosphere thriller/horror with interesting characters and story. Or just keep hating this movie, so I can love it even more LOL

Torino in Italy.Serial killer called Yellow is killing beautiful foreign women because he is ugly as hell.He kidnaps them first in his taxicab and proceeds to drug them.Then he mutilates his victims and photographs his deeds before each gruesome kill.Linda(Polanski's wife Emmanuelle Seigner)teams up with detective Enzo(Adrien Brody)and they both try to stop elusive killer before he kills Linda's captured sister.Being a fan of Dario Argento's gialli I was a bit disappointed with "Giallo".Actually I avoided watching this film for some time.First of all the killer called Yellow looks truly stupid.Still the cinematography of "Giallo" is truly beautiful and the acting is quite good.There are also some unpleasant scenes of gore and carnal mutilations,but the film lacks suspense and truly engaging story.7 slashings out of 10.

Worst movie I've seen in years. When I die i will ask God for forgiveness for the time I spent watching this piece of crap. Maybe I will ask God to delete my memory of ever sitting & watching the entire Giallo movie so I do not carry this with me in Heaven.A small advice to the ones still interested in watching this "movie". Do not ever tell your girlfriend that you have watched this or that you want to watch this or ever suggesting this to watch together on a movie night.Maybe there could be a good sequel to this with a serial killer strapping his victims on a chair and make them watch this film twice and then let them go....it could not get any worse than that.