Blood and Black Lace (1964)
Often cited as one of the most influential 'slasher' films in cinema history, Blood and Black Lace was filmed in Rome and directed by the so-called 'master of Italian horror', Mario Bava.
A number of fashion models are killed by a mysterious masked figure wearing a trench coat who seems willing to go to any lengths to get his hands on a mysterious diary.
The film is full of plot twists, and the ending is a satisfying (albeit deadly) one.
Suspiria (1977)
The 2018 remake starring Tilda Swinton and Dakota Johnson was captivating, but there's something about the Dario Argento classic that's just that little bit eerier.
Ballet student Susie Bannion (played by American actress Jessica Harper) transfers to a prestigious dance academy in Freiburg, Germany – but all is not as it seems.
READ ALSO: Six essential films to watch before moving to Italy
After seeing a fellow student flee and Suzy herself being denied entry to the school on her first night, sinister events begin to unravel, revealing a chilling truth about the school's founder.
Suspiria is the first of a supernatural horror trilogy directed by Argento, and has been praised for its creepy soundtrack (by Italian progressive rock group Goblin), as well as its use of bright colours.
Cemetery Man (1994)
Something is stirring in the small town of Buffalora, and it isn't anything nice.
Cemetery caretaker Francesco Dellamorte (a play on della morte, 'of death') must defend himself against the dead when they rise from their graves as zombies.
Already an outcast in his town, Dellamorte tries to get the mayor to investigate, but the local sindaco is far more focused on his re-election campaign.
Starring Rupert Everett, this adaptation of a 1991 novel written by author Tiziano Sclavi was directed by Michele Soavi.
Deep Red (1975)
As if Suspiria wasn't scary enough, its director, Dario Argento, made an equally creepy film: Deep Red.
The story opens with a Christmas scene at a family home in 1956, when an unseen figure stabs someone to death. The knife then falls at the feet of a child.
The storyline picks up again 20 years later when a reporter and a musician investigate a series of murders, all perpetrated by a dark figure wearing black leather gloves.
According to various media reports from the time, Argento reportedly chose to shoot the film in Turin as the city was home to more practising Satanists than any other city in Europe.
The House with Laughing Windows (1976)
Filmed in Ferrara, Emilia Romagna, this movie follows the fate of Stefano, a young man who is sent to restore a controversial mural at a small town's church.
Its long-dead painter, Buono Legnani, is shrouded in mystery; he was known for painting people who were close to death, and his body was never found.
As Stefano investigates the life of the fresco's original author, several people in the village become victims of vicious murders.
Is the killer trying to send out a warning to Stefano?
The film was directed by Pupi Avati, who's also known for his 1983 horror classic Zeder.
All the Colours of the Dark (1972)
After a car accident causes her to miscarry, Jane ends up confiding in her new neighbour, Mary, who advises her to go to a Black Mass.
After attending the rituals, Jane is tormented by nightmares of a strange man and starts seeing him in her waking life, making her increasingly unable to distinguish the dream world from the real one.
READ ALSO: Seven of the best Italian Netflix shows to stream in 2025
The film was directed by Sergio Martino, with screenplay by Ernesto Castaldi and Sauro Scavolini.
Phenomena (1985)
After missing her bus in the middle of the Swiss countryside, 14-year-old tourist Vera Brandt looks for help at a cottage, where she's brutally killed by an unseen assailant.
Eight months later, Jennifer Corvino (played by a very young Jennifer Connelly), the daughter of a famous American actor, arrives at a private, all-girls Swiss boarding school.
After witnessing a number of murders, Jennifer starts using a 'telepathic link' to find the killer.
Directed by Dario Argento, the film is often praised for its soundtrack, which features tracks by Motörhead, Goblin, and Iron Maiden, among others.
Comments