Those familiar to Argento's films could probably spot the clue to solve this stunning murder mystery in the opening scenes. It's there and on the screen, much like in Deep Red and Suspiria. I missed it the first time, but I spotted it the second time around and it made me love this film even more. The ideas here are still young to Argento, they are ideas he would later masterfully flesh out in Tenebre and specifically Deep Red.

The…

I watched this film as I watch most films: without knowing anything about it at all. There is something I like about viewing a film on its own merits, without knowing its influences, genre or its place in film history.

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, about an American in Italy who witnesses a serial killer at work and helps to investigate is a good thriller with a few twists that keeps it interesting. The conclusion is a bit of…

Very fine debut that set the trend for giallo for the next half dozen years. The seeds of the genre had already been sown but here Argento strikes out stylishly and makes a massive mark. It was interesting watching this once more having now having seen so many more giallo since first seeing this and realising just what an influence it had been. There are elements, particularly visuals, that we will see developed in later Argento films as well as…

A jazzed up debut featuring many of the elements that would become synonymous with Argento. The heavy metal is absent but Morricone manages to add a unique and nearly carefree vibe.

The heavy ritualisation of the killer is present with the POV shots being particularly pronounced. Art also remains a central key to the film, an element that is most interesting but never perfectly explored. It is also fascinating how duel killers feature so prominently in his work.

The insertion…