Chicago Film Discussion Group

The influence of Italian cinema on American genre films cannot be overstated, with Spaghetti Westerns being the most famous examples. But just as that cycle was winding down, two others would leave its mark on horror and action films. Giallos are the stylish and more procedural predecessors of the slasher genre, with Dario Argento being its most acclaimed auteur.
Poliziottescos (sometimes called Eurocrime films) took influences like The French Connection and Dirty Harry and ratchetted them up to such Tarantino-like levels that QT’s own early films can be looked at as tributes to the genre. Fernando Di Leo’s acclaimed trilogy is recommended. Think of him as the Eurocrime version of Sergio Leone.
For a fuller picture, we also included an early influence, a modern-day example and some arthouse representation. Should be a wild ride for early October, but…many of these films lean pretty heavy on the violence and blood, so if you’re sensitive about that that kind of thing, this is your warning.

· Salvatore Giuliano – 1962 (Francesco Rosi)
· The Conformist – 1970 (Bernardo Bertolucci)
· Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion - 1970 (Elio Petri)
· The Bird with the Crystal Plumage – 1970 (Dario Argento)
· Caliber 9 – 1972 (Fernando Di Leo)
· The Italian Connection – 1972 (Fernando Di Leo)
· The Boss – 1973 (Fernando Di Leo)
· High Crime – 1973 (Enzo G. Castellari)
· Deep Red – 1975 (Dario Argento)
· Gomorrah – 2008 (Matteo Garrone)