GIallo spotlight: "Last Night in Soho"

Join Movie Club Member Kyle C. for the next movie in his giallo series.
Here's how it works:

1. We will be meeting at Dot's Cafe, 2521 SE Clinton St., on Sunday, January 11 from 4-6pm
2. Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece. (NOTE: Just like a book club, we watch the movie before we meet, streaming links below)

Movie Spotlight:

Last Night in Soho is a psychological thriller directed by Edgar Wright that immerses viewers in the allure and danger of 1960s London. The film is a story about a young woman whose fascination with the past draws her into a glamorous yet unsettling world. It is less about straightforward horror and more about atmosphere, identity, and the risks of romanticizing bygone eras. Through its use of music, fashion, and vivid cinematography, the film creates a dreamlike experience where beauty and menace coexist, blurring the line between nostalgia and nightmare.

The film’s style deliberately echoes Italian giallo cinema, a genre that flourished in the 1960s and 1970s. Giallo films were known for their bold use of color, heightened melodrama, and stylized depictions of mystery and violence. Directors like Mario Bava and Dario Argento pioneered this approach, combining glamorous settings with unsettling tension. Last Night in Soho borrows from this tradition by employing saturated lighting, subjective camera work, and surreal sequences that disorient the viewer. Its nightclub scenes, mod fashion, and heightened emotional performances all recall the genre’s fascination with glamour as a mask for darker truths.

By channeling giallo, Wright situates his film within a lineage of cinema that explores the tension between beauty and horror. Just as Italian thrillers used dazzling style to conceal menace, Last Night in Soho uses its lush 1960s aesthetic to lure both its protagonist and the audience into a world where glamour hides danger. In this way, the film is not only a modern thriller but also a contemporary homage to giallo, reinterpreting its visual and emotional language for today’s audiences.

Tips:

1. Haven't seen the movie before? You're in for a treat - try to watch the movie sometime before we meet (Streaming Options). Just like a book club we don't watch the movie at our meetup, just discuss it. You don't have to watch the movie to join us, but it'll be more fun if you can.
2. I usually take a few notes while I watch to keep from forgetting the most interesting stuff. If you think of some interesting discussion topics while you watch, bring 'em with you!
3. We'll decide on our next giallo movie to watch! Come with suggestions.

Are you not that familiar with the giallo genre? Read the Wikipedia entry to learn more. Is there a giallo you'd like to propose the group watch and discuss next? Here's a comprehensive list of Italian giallos along with films influenced by the genre. Maybe there's a film you've heard about but needed an excuse to watch--come join us for discussion & make a suggestion!

Coming to the group for the first time, but interested in movies previously watched & discussed? Here's a list of all previous giallos watched and discussed by the group (with group rating)!

On Discord? Join the Portland Movie Club!