Wow. Just...wow. When I read that Severin was going to be releasing this to disc my interest was piqued immediately. I've only recently become a major fan of giallo films. To hear that they were releasing a disc that not only contained a documentary on the subject but a ton of trailers as well? I mean come on, that's a no brainer. It had to be added to the collection.

ALL THE COLORS OF GIALLO has so much to offer it's difficult to begin telling you how good it is and what there is. But let's start with the first disc shall we? This blu-ray starts off with the documentary about the giallo film, ALL THE COLORS OF GIALLO. If you're not aware of what giallo it it's a term given to a genre of film, most of which were made in Italy, that were called this because they were based on mystery thriller book at the time which all featured yellow, or giallo, covers. So close to the series of books were they that the term applied to the films. The documentary is in Italian with subtitles provided but that doesn't make a difference. What we are presented with is a discussion of the films that were made in the genre's peak period coupled with interviews of those who were responsible for some of the most amazing features the genre produced. If those involved were deceased at present, audio from those directors has been brought in to get their views on the matter. Included among the many luminaries from the genre are Mario Bava, Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Sergio Martino, Antonio Margheriti, Umberto Lenzi and more. It's an amazing documentary with not just behind the scenes information from those who made the films but clips inserted as well. It will leave you wanting to see those movies you might have missed. But that's not all! There is also a commentary track with Kat Ellinger, Author of "All the Colors of Sergio Martino". And THE GIALLO FRAMES, an interview with John Martin, Editor of the Giallo Pages. But that's still not enough! There is also a compilation of trailers of giallo films, enough to occupy you for 4 hours! This would be a disc worth buying on this alone. But as those late night hour long commercials say "Wait! There's more!"

Like a second disc. I found this one equally as fascinating, giving me information I was completely unaware of. This disc discussing a genre of films that actually influenced the giallo films. It features THE CASE OF THE KRIMI an interview with film historian Marcus Stiglegger. I had never heard of the krimi genre before. Apparently these were films made mostly in Germany in the fifties and sixties that were based on the same thriller novels that later giallo films were made from. Instead of yellow these books were released with red covers in Germany and the main author the films seemed to be drawn to were the books written by Edgar Wallace. If the name sounds familiar, Wallace was well known for the proliferation of mysteries he wrote but maybe more so for being the creator of the story for King Kong. This documentary talks about those films and once more will most likely result in your wanting to seek some out. I know it did me. But as with the first disc...there's more! Like another compilation of trailers, this time involving krimi films. Not quite as long as the other compilation it still presents plenty to pique your interest.

One would think you could relax with these two discs, satisfied that the money spent on the package was well worth it. But again, there is STILL more. A third disc! This one is called "The Strange Case of the Bloodstained Films" and is a soundtrack compilation of various themes from numerous giallo films. It features the works of composers like Ennio Morricone, Riz Ortolani, Bruno Nicolai, Stelvio Cipriani and more.

I know, this one is an exhausting disc to experience. Trust me it took me time to sit and watch every single moment. But it was well worth it and one of the most enjoyable experiences to have as a burgeoning fan of the genre. It is one of those discs that you know you'll find yourself referencing as you build a collection of films based on the recommendations and items seen in the documentaries and among the trailers offered.

As I said before, Severin has stepped up their game with several new releases and this is one of them. This is not a disc that you will casually consider buying, it is one that you need to have. It is one that not only offers everything in pristine fashion but in overwhelming amounts. This is a must have so make a point of ordering it immediately.

Seeing as how we're in the middle of giallo week here at the site, there's no better blu ray available now than this set from Severin if you either want to learn all about the genre or already are a fan and want to see some of the people behind your favorite films. There's so much on all three discs to love, no matter whether you know that giallo means yellow, you've never seen an Argento movie before or that you can name these films or if you worship Edwige Fenech and can name every movie's alternative titles off the top of your head.

Disc one contains the documentary All the Colors of Giallo by Federico Caddeo, which features interviews with writers like Dardano Sacchetti and Ernesto Gastaldi as well as George Hilton, Daria Nicolodi, Barbara Bouchet, Nieves Navarro and the still lovely Ms. Fenech, plus Argento, Umberto Lenzi, Lamberto Bava, Sergio Martino and even audio from the past from Lucio Fulci!

This is a treat, hearing from the actual people what it was like to be part of these films as well as the legacy that they've created. It's a perfect companion to the All the Colors of the Dark rerelease that Severin put out alongside this. Plus, there's an interview with John Martin from The Giallo Pages and audio commentary by Kat Ellinger, who wrote the book All the Colors of Sergio Martino.

The best part of this collection are the trailers, which include The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Blood and Black Lace, Libido, The Embalmer, The Murder Clinic, Deadly Sweet, Death Laid an Egg, Naked You Die, The Sweet Body of Deborah, A Black Veil for Lisa, Deadly Inheritance, Paranoia, Perversion Story, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Five Dolls for an August Moon, Hatchet for the Honeymoon, Death Occurred Last Night, The Weekend Murders, The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, The Cat O' Nine Tails, A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Cold Eyes of Fear, The Designated Victim, In the Eye of the Hurricane, Slaughter Hotel, The Case of the Scorpion's Tail, The Fifth Cord, The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire, The Black Belly of the Tarantula, The Bloodstained Butterfly, Short Night of Glass Dolls, Death Walks on High Heels, The Devil with Seven Faces, Four Flies on Grey Velvet, The Dead Are Alive, My Dear Killer, Seven Blood-Stained Orchids, All the Colors of the Dark, What Have You Done to Solange?, Amuck!, Who Saw Her Die?, The French Sex Murders, The Case of the Bloody Iris, The Crimes of the Black Cat, The Red Queen Kills Seven Times, Knife of Ice, Don't Torture a Duckling, Tropic of Cancer, The Killer is on the Phone, A White Dress for Mariale, Torso, Death Carries a Cane, Seven Deaths in the Cat's Eye, Spasmo, The Killer Reserved Nine Seats, The Girl in Room 2A, What Have They Done to Your Daughters?, Puzzle, Death Will Have Your Eyes, The Killer Must Kill Again, Autopsy, Eyeball, Deep Red, Strip Nude for Your Killer, The Bloodsucker Leads the Dance, Strange Shadows in an Empty Room, The House of the Laughing Windows, Nine Guests for a Crime, Watch Me When I Kill, The Psychic, The Pyjama Girl Case, Hotel Fear, Enigma Rosso, The Sister of Ursula, The Bloodstained Shadow, Killer Nun, Giallo in Venice, The New York Ripper, Tenebre and A Blade in the Dark.

Plus, you get an entire disc filled with kriminal trailers and The Case Of The Krimi, an interview with film historian Marcus Stiglegger and a third disc (!) with music from the films curated by Alfonso Carillo of Rendezvous! From The Archives Of Beat Records and remastered By Claudio Fuiano. It contains music from The Young, the Evil and the Savage, Killer Nun, Perversion Story, A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, The Case of the Scorpion's Tail, Seven Shawls of Yellow Silk, Amuck!, Smile Before Death, The Case of the Bloody Iris, All the Colors of the Dark, The Cat In Heat, Strange Shadows In an Empty Room, The Bloodstained Shadow, The New York Ripper and The Great Swingle.

This is literally THE giallo package that I've turned to time and again since I've purchased it. You'd do well to do the same. It's available from Severin.

An excellent appraisal of the Italian giallo, made and released as a blu-ray feature by Severin with an accompanying trailer collection. ALL THE COLORS OF GIALLO explores the growth and development of the genre from its roots in 1920s-era pulp novels through the German krimi and then Bava's bravura, landmark achievements. This takes the traditional format of multiple interview segments with directors, writers and actors and is entirely shot in Italian, with subtitles throughout. Promotional material and film clips are incorporated where appropriate. There's a little too much of the film historian at times and I found Fulci getting undue prominence, but it's great to see the likes of Lenzi and Argento talking about their heyday and it's a must-see for fans of this excellent genre.