10 Underrated Giallo Movies That Deserve Your Attention

Giallo films, those stylish Italian murder mysteries that paved the way for slasher films, are packed with hidden gems beyond crowd favorites like Deep Red and Suspiria. With their signature first-person killer POVs, over-the-top murder sequences, and mind-bending twist endings, these films blend psychological horror with a hefty dose of artistic flair. Sure, directors like Dario Argento and Mario Bava get all the glory, but plenty of incredible giallo films slipped through the cracks when they first came out, only to become cult classics years later. Here’s a roundup of ten underappreciated giallo flicks that deserve a spot in every horror fan’s must-watch list.

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10The Red Queen Kills Seven Times

Emilio Miraglia’s atmospheric 1972 chiller follows a creepy family prophecy that seemingly comes to life when a string of brutal murders rocks a fashion house. The killer, decked out as a medieval countess, laughs maniacally while dispatching victims—which is pretty much peak giallo right there. What really makes this one special is its gothic castle setting and the twisted psychological dance between two estranged sisters caught in the curse’s web. With its elaborate plot twists and vivid color palette, this film showcases the visual flair giallo cinema is known for, yet somehow it’s flown under the radar compared to its flashier contemporaries.

9Death Walks on High Heels

This 1971 Luciano Ercoli thriller follows an exotic dancer who gets tangled up in a messy situation after her dad gets murdered on a train and some diamonds go missing. Starring the magnetic Nieves Navarro (using her screen name Susan Scott), the film hits all the giallo sweet spots with its cocktail of sex, violence, and stylish camera work. What really shines here are the unexpected narrative curveballs that keep you guessing until the final reveal. Despite being what many fans consider a perfect gateway drug into the genre, Death Walks on High Heels hasn’t gotten the love it deserves compared to other giallo heavyweights.

8Spasmo

Umberto Lenzi’s 1974 Spasmo breaks the giallo mold with its mind-bending psychological complexity and dreamlike atmosphere. The story follows a guy who keeps stumbling across mannequins in bizarre places while getting mixed up in a series of mysterious disappearances. Unlike most blood-soaked giallo fare, Spasmo dials back on the gore and cranks up the psychological dread through confusion and disorientation. The film’s deliberate pacing asks you to work a little harder as it builds toward its wild conclusion, but it’s totally worth it if you’re willing to sink into its bizarre narrative.

7Four Flies on Grey Velvet

The final chapter in Dario Argento’s “Animal Trilogy,” this 1971 film follows a rock musician who accidentally kills a stalker only to be blackmailed by someone who saw the whole thing. Featuring some groundbreaking slow-motion camera work and a killer score by Ennio Morricone, Four Flies on Grey Velvet shows off Argento’s visual wizardry before his better known works. The film mixes classic murder mystery elements with a jaw-dropping twist ending that riffs on some pretty out-there pseudo-scientific ideas about retinal imagery. Despite coming from the genre’s most celebrated filmmaker, this early work tends to get overshadowed by Argento’s later, flashier hits such as, Deep Red> (1975) and Suspiria (1977).

6The Case of the Bloody Iris

Giuliano Carnimeo’s 1972 film is basically giallo’s greatest hits album. The story revolves around models being picked off by a nutcase killer in their fancy apartment building, with the gorgeous Edwige Fenech leading the cast. The Case of the Bloody Iris serves up lush visuals and outrageous murder scenes while diving into some pretty progressive psychosexual themes for its time. The film takes aim at outdated sexual norms through its story about women being punished for their sexuality. Yeah, some of the performances are a bit over-the-top (even by ’70s standards), but its engaging mystery and visual pizzazz make it a standout that deserves way more love from genre fans.

5All the Colors of the Dark

Sergio Martino’s 1972 psychological nightmare follows a woman haunted by terrifying dreams who falls under the spell of a Satanic cult. With the captivating Edwige Fenech in the lead, the film creates a genuinely unsettling vibe through its intense dream sequences and skin-crawling ritual scenes. All the Colors of the Dark brilliantly muddles the line between reality and hallucination, leaving you scratching your head about what’s actually happening to our protagonist. The film’s deep dive into trauma and psychological fragility puts it a cut above typical genre stuff, yet somehow it hasn’t gotten the same recognition as other giallo flicks, making it a true hidden treasure for horror buffs.

4Seven Blood-Stained Orchids

Umberto Lenzi’s 1972 addition to the giallo canon is a fast-paced thriller about a husband and wife chasing down a killer who’s targeting women connected by a mysterious half-moon medallion. The film boasts some eye-catching cinematography and a seriously deranged killer whose methods keep the tension cranked throughout. Seven Blood-Stained Orchids stands out for its tighter storytelling compared to some of its meandering cousins, maintaining the suspense without skimping on the stylistic flourishes that make giallo, well, giallo. Despite getting thumbs up from genre diehards, it rarely comes up in broader conversations about influential Italian horror.

3The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave

This 1971 giallo gem revels in its lurid, gothic excess, crafting a hauntingly decadent vibe that distinguishes it from more polished genre fare. The film follows a tormented aristocrat, unraveling under the weight of his late wife’s memory, as he lures women to his eerie estate where murders and madness collide. The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave captivates with its raw, psychosexual intensity, blending shadowy visuals and twisted plotting with a gritty charm that feels both unhinged and intimate. Though overshadowed by flashier giallo classics, its feverish atmosphere and shocking turns deliver a lingering, unsettling slice of the genre’s dark heart.

2What Have You Done to Solange?

Massimo Dallamano’s 1972 thriller kicks off with a teacher’s affair leading to a gruesome murder during a canoe trip, igniting a chain of killings filled with shocking revelations. The film stands out with its intricate plotting and clever misdirection, showing off some sophisticated storytelling chops rare even among the best giallo films. What Have You Done to Solange? tackles darker themes than many of its peers, digging into issues of youth, corruption, and moral hypocrisy. The film’s artistic merits and narrative complexity make it criminally underrated compared to more famous examples of Italian horror.

1A Blade in the Dark

Lamberto Bava (son of the legendary Mario Bava) directed this 1983 giallo about a composer who discovers murder lurking around his isolated villa while working on a horror film score. What makes A Blade in the Dark cool is how it gets meta with horror, beating Wes Craven’s New Nightmare to the self-referential punch by years. The film creates a seriously claustrophobic vibe within its limited setting, building tension through its isolated location and inventive kill scenes. Despite being considered Lamberto’s best work by many genre nuts, it’s still overshadowed by his dad’s contributions to Italian horror and the more famous giallo flicks of the ’70s.