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Giallo is a distinctive subgenre of horror and thriller films that emerged in Italy during the 1960s and 1970s. The term giallo (Italian for “yellow”) originally referred to a series of pulp mystery novels that were published with yellow covers. These novels often featured lurid tales of crime, murder, and psychological suspense. The film genre derived its name from these books and shares many of their characteristics. Mario Bava is one of the most influential figures in the history of horror cinema, often credited as the “father of Italian horror.” Born on July 31, 1914, in San Remo, Italy, Bava was originally a cinematographer before becoming a director. His work laid the foundation for many subgenres of horror, including giallo and the slasher film, and his innovative use of lighting, color, and special effects has left a lasting impact on cinema. Two of Mario Bava’s key films, The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963) and A Bay of Blood (1971), are central to understanding the development of giallo and its transition into the slasher genre.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much is widely regarded as the first true giallo film, setting the template for the genre. The film follows Nora Davis, an American tourist in Rome who witnesses a murder on the Spanish Steps. The plot thickens as she becomes entangled in a series of killings, with the mystery deepening as she tries to prove that what she saw was real and uncover the killer’s identity. The Girl Who Knew Too Much introduced many of the key elements that would become standard in giallo, including the focus on a murder mystery, the vulnerable yet determined female protagonist, and the use of suspenseful, twist-filled narratives. The film also employs numerous red herrings, leading both Nora and the audience down false paths before the final revelation. One major red herring involves the series of murders attributed to the so-called “Alphabet Killer,” who supposedly kills victims in alphabetical order. Nora becomes convinced that the current murder is part of this series, but it is eventually revealed that the true motive is tied to a more personal vendetta. The elaborate setup around the “Alphabet Killer” is a misdirection that obscures the real reason behind the murders and the killer’s identity, leading to a surprising twist. Dario Argento, one of the most famous directors associated with giallo would use red herrings in his films including Deep Red (1975) and Tenebrae (1982). Directed by Wes Craven, Scream (1996) revitalized the slasher genre by incorporating multiple red herrings and misdirection. The film constantly plays with audience expectations, suggesting different characters as the possible killer. The eventual reveal is a subversion of the whodunit trope, drawing from the giallo tradition of keeping the killer(s) identity hidden until the last moment.

A Bay of Blood, also known as Twitch of the Death Nerve is a proto-slasher film that significantly influenced the genre. The film’s graphic and inventive death scenes were groundbreaking at the time and later served as a direct inspiration for Friday the 13th and other American slashers. The film is a brutal, darkly comedic exploration of greed and murder, centering around a series of killings sparked by a contested inheritance. The story unfolds through a chain of murders as various characters vie for control of a valuable piece of land. While A Bay of Blood retains the mystery and psychological elements of giallo, it shifts the focus toward body count and the spectacle of murder, hallmarks of the slasher genre. The film’s structure—where the narrative serves as a vehicle for a series of elaborate kills—prefigures the formula that would dominate slasher films in the late 1970s and 1980s. Bava’s use of the killer’s point of view (POV) was groundbreaking. The camera frequently adopts the perspective of the murderer, placing the audience in the position of the killer as they stalk and attack their victims. This technique not only heightens the tension but also creates a disturbing sense of intimacy with the violence. The use of killer POV became a defining characteristic of slasher films, most notably in Halloween (1978), where it was used to great effect in the opening scene. Bava’s innovative approach in A Bay of Blood directly influenced this visual style. The movie is notorious for its graphic and inventive murder scenes, many of which were later echoed in slasher films like Friday the 13th. The film features a series of brutal, often shocking deaths, including the famous double impalement of a couple, which was directly referenced in Friday the 13th. Although Sean S. Cunningham, the director of Friday the 13th, has publicly denied seeing A Bay of Blood, he has acknowledged being influenced by Halloween, a film by John Carpenter, who was known to be a fan of Mario Bava.

Mario Bava’s The Girl Who Knew Too Much and A Bay of Blood are pivotal in the evolution of the giallo genre. The Girl Who Knew Too Much established many of the tropes that would define giallo, while A Bay of Blood pushed these elements toward the more visceral and graphic style that would characterize the slasher genre. Bava’s use of the killer’s POV and his focus on creative, stylized violence in A Bay of Blood made it a proto-slasher, laying the groundwork for the American slasher boom that followed.

Stan, a native of Union, South Carolina, found inspiration for his passion for horror in the
haunting image of an abandoned house consumed by kudzu that lingered in his memories. These
days, Stan likes to watch horror movies as well as dabble in screenwriting and writing about
horror.
Find Stan on X.com/Deathlok38