Now this is something every giallo fan would love to grab indeed, though it's a tad pricey. $295US, I'm sure there is an outlet that has this for a much lower price somewhere. Anyhow, this certainly looks like it's very indepth and is directed by Paolo Fanzini[/i]




Before The Ring and The Grudge, there was Suspiria. Hanging Shadows offers a critical appreciation of Italian horror cinema, pioneered by directors such as Dario Argento and Maria Bava, a genre that influenced filmmakers from Quentin Tarantino to Takashi Miike.

With its roots in the pulpy crime novels of the 1920s and 30s, Giallo cinema (the term refers to the lurid yellow covers that graced the early novels) or Italian horror cinema, as it’s more commonly known, first emerged in the late 1960s. Following the neo-realists, the giallo films represented a radical break with Italy’s cinematic past, and much like film-noir in America, were often derided by critics as mere genre films - movies made by artisans (not artists). The films, however, have since developed a fervent cult following and their influence can be seen in the work of numerous contemporary filmmakers, most prominently in the young Asian directors who are developing their own wildly-popular brand of horror cinema.

This documentary presents an informative historical overview of the giallo genre, exploring its genesis and chronicling the films, directors, and personalities that made up its golden age. Featuring interviews with Dario Argento, Lamberto Bava (director and son of Maria Bava), Antonella Fulci (daughter of director Lucio Fulci), Franco Ferrini (co-writer of Sergio Leone’s Once upon a time in America and numerous Argento films), Ruggero Deodata (Cannibal Holocaust), Giannetto De Rossi (make-up artist on Fulci’s films), and many others, Hanging Shadows is a fascinating study of a group of films and filmmakers that redefined the horror genre and forever changed the way we think of horror films.

Directed by Paolo Fazzini
2005, 60 minutes


“My father Mario, whenever he was home alone, would lock himself in his bedroom. If I have to sleep alone in a room, I can never resist the temptation to check under the bed. My friend Dario Argento doesn’t like to be at home by himself either. You can say we’re all chicken-hearted.” – Lambarta Bava, Director

“A personal history of Italian Horror film through the eyes of its makers.… Recommended for film studies.” – Educational Media Reviews Online