So Deadly, So Perverse: Giallo-Style Films From Around the World, Vol. 3

After the first two volumes of Mr. Howarth's essential encyclopedia of the Italian Giallo genre, I was surprised to find a third tome this time covering titles from all corners of the world. After reading his excellent preface, I can understand why this release was needed. The Giallo genre had influenced American and British releases throughout the late sixties, Seventies, and Eighties with faint traces continuing to this day but did you know that Egypt , Turkey and Greece had some titles? The reviews are listed in the same manner : by year beginning with 1966 ,Titles , cast ,credits, synopsis and review peppered with rare color photos and fotobustas when needed. Some reviewers had sniped about how Mr. Howarth gave some films negative reviews but I find his observations to be honest and well researched. He explains why some titles were not included although over the years these films had falsely acquired the Giallo label . Films such as Director Kostas Karagiannis's 'TANGO OF PERVERSION'-1974 , Director Irvin Kershner's 'EYES OF LAURA MARS-1978, and Director Jose Marta Forque's 'TAROT'-1973 finally get their due . Its great to see Directors Joseph Larraz and Carlos Aured rubbing shoulders with John Carpenter and Brian De Palma. I was surprised to see the Vincent Price vehicle Director Jim Clark's MADHOUSE'-1974 included and after reading the review, it made a lot of sense. i was also pleased that the author acknowledged one of my favorite films Director Alan J. Pakula's 'KLUTE'=1971 which I always perceived as a first rate Americanized Giallo with a chilling performance by Charles Cioffi and was never mentioned in this category until now. So Bravo, Mr. Howarth, on a job well done and though their will probably be other books including titles you have omitted, to this fan you have definitely written the definitive tomes on the Giallo..

Not as good as first two Volumes simply because the reviews are no longer reviewing the 1970s which is the “flagship” era for Giallo. One problem with the first two volumes is the author tends to put down a lot of the moves surprisingly as you would think a guy who loves Giallo would love a lot of the movies he’s writing about but more than half of them he “grades” them as not good movies. My viewpoint is a bad Giallo movie is better than an excellent contemporary movie. The only problem is I can’t think of a bad Giallo movie. They are all excellent, every single one of them, no exceptions.

This book as a worthy finale to the first two volumes of this work. As the giallo morphs and revises itself since the 1970s, Howarth traces many of the international manifestations of the sub-genre. I have always loved John Kenneth Muir's HORROR FILMS OTHE 1970s and HORROR FILMS OF THE 1980s but Howarth's completed effort surpasses those works in focus and breadth simultaneously. And it is a heck of a lot of fun to read. If you are a giallo fan like me, this work is essential.

Although not strictly full of Giallo films, it does cover the slashers and other films that came along after that era. This is still worth your time - there are films here I never heard of. Quality of book is good like the other titles.

Great follow up to the first two volumes. A great look at giallo like cinema from around the world. It covers some of the Spanish gialli that IMO are pure giallo just produced a few kilometers away. If you liked the first two volumes, check this one out, if you didn’t, buy all three at once.

Another great addition to my library. Three volumes dedicated to the Giallo film. Well researched and written

Thank you Troy for another informative well written book.

Cheap stock. The images are B&W photos of movie posters. The text is generally a synopsis with very little in the way of any insight.Even readers new to the world of giallo won't find anything here.

This 3rd book is a little below the 2 first ones, but still very interesting and well written and illustrated. But there are fewer gems here tan in the Italian giallo production. A must have anyway for all Giallo's fans.

Might be a pricey purchase but for any giallo fan this is an essential purchase. Covers movies from across the world that have been inspired by the giallo genre. Once reading these reviews you'll soon be seeking out these movies yourself.

Volume Three is described as a guide to GIALLO-STYLE FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.The description is accurate in some sense; most devotees of this genre will likely find little enthusiasm for many of the films, though some such as KLUTE are fine films (1)The paper seems cheap, a variation on blotting paper resulting in poor repruction of colour stills (2).This is unforgivable as gialli films are so much about style, atmosphere and staging. (2)The editor of this material did a terrible job. One review runs into another - the reader struggles to find where one review ends, and the next begins. (3)As Mr Howarth has fewer films which meet his own criteria, some of those films get more pages than they deserve.Actual presentation of the films’ credits could be improved, less is moreEg. Director Producer Screenplay Alternative titles Cast CrewSeparate lines rather than all that information running on and on.There are one or two older titles out there that are not as encyclopedic but isolate films that actually are representative of this genre that flourished between 1962-75.Thanks for reading, Simon

Troy Howarth exhaustively and entertainingly chronicled Italian gialli in the first two volumes of So Deadly, So Perserve. With this 3rd and final volume giallo-style pictures from countries other than Italy are covered (e.g. Spain's BLUES EYES OF A BROKEN DOLL), Italian pictures which are borderline gialli (e.g. THE GREAT SWINDLE), and additionally covers popular slashers influenced by gialli (e.g. HALLOWEEN). A gorgeous packed nearly-300-page volume of giallo goodness! My highest recommendation.