Deep Red (1975)

Dir: Dario Argento

The giallo's giallo, Deep Red is about as good as the genre gets. Although its plot follows a pretty familiar pattern (a foreigner (David Hemmings) in Rome witnesses a brutal murder and must prove his own innocence before the cops lock him up for it), the script is way slicker than most. There's a great rapport between Hemmings and Daria Nicolodi (a reporter who offers help in solving the crimes) and even some humour in there, which is rare for Argento. The set design and photography are both unbelievable and Argento's direction keeps things tight, brutal and beautiful. Goblin's ferocious musical score still sounds incredible today and the killer's reveal at the end is simply the most audacious and ingenious twist I've ever seen in a detective film. Brilliant stuff. ****