Just picture it. How beautiful would it be to see the black-gloved hands of Giallo killers reaching out across America, spreading the good word of Giallo all across the land? In the best-case scenario, the unholy Tenebrae of Giallo would spread further yearly until “January Giallo” goes worldwide. A big plus is that the killers aren’t currently killing because they are distracted by propagating their love of violent Eurocrime, perhaps giving you time to escape. Ahem. Take a moment to envision those flamboyant trenchcoats on hat-wearing psychotic fiends stretching out from their souls and touching the beating heart of cinema fans everywhere. Hey, wait, put that razor down!
As a recap, Giallos, a subgenre of Italian cinema popular in the ’70s and ’80s, are thrillers often characterized by stunning psychedelic cinematography, mystery plots with “out of nowhere” twists, and over-the-top graphic violence. Cinematic Void, the Los Angeles cult film series based at the American Cinematheque, is back for another round of its famous “January Giallo” series to kick off 2023. This year the Void will be expanding the Giallo cinemadness throughout January in eight cities and counting across the nation.
Best of all, this year’s programming will also feature “American Gialli,” films made in the US that were structurally and visually inspired by the Italian genre, and “Neo-Gialli,” modern films that also fit within the subgenre. We cannot wait.
Cinematic Void founder and film programmer Jim Branscome says in a statement, “Once again, we sharpen our straight razors and slip on those black gloves to celebrate my favorite yearly series I host with Cinematic Void, January Giallo. After expanding outside of Los Angeles in 2022 to work with some of my favorite film programmers across the country, I knew the 2023 edition had to be even bigger and bloodier.”
The latest news is that eight deadly theatres will be participating in “January Giallo” this year, and many will bring their unique and killer style to the proceedings. Not only can you see classics of the genre like What Have You Done To Solange? or The Bird With The Crystal Plumage across the country, but also American Gialli like I Know Who Killed Me, and Tightrope.
There will also be plenty of rare Italian language film prints screened, including a pristine Technicolor 35mm of Lucio Fulci’s A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin that Harry Guerro of Exhumed Films, who helped organize the print tour, brought from Europe.
Here’s the seductive list of all the theaters that have joined the gore-loving ranks of January Giallo. Back for JG 2023 are repertory theater titans Coolidge After Midnite at The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston, MA, and Music Box of Horrors at The Music Box Theatre in Chicago, IL. “It’s no mystery that the Coolidge After Midnite and Cinematic Void go together like J&B scotch and murder! We’re thrilled to once again partner with them, and all the participating theatres, presenting a month of stunning and visceral Gialli. Andiamo!” says Mark Anastasio, Director of Special Programming at the Coolidge Corner Theatre.
William Morris, Film Programmer for Music Box of Horrors, adds, “Music Box of Horrors is proud to be back for another installment of January Giallo, in partnership with our friends at Cinematic Void! This year we offer up three Italian heavy-hitters (one from an ultra-rare imported Italian 35mm print!) from some stalwarts of the genre plus a still under-loved Spanish Giallo gem from the genre master Eloy de la Iglesia, and what we consider to be one of the finest examples of the American Giallo starring none other than Clint Eastwood! Grab your J&B, and strap in for some salacious, twisty, mind-bending gems culled from the most decadent and delicious of all horror sub-genres; the mighty Giallo.”
Also, back for a second time and now showing an entire month of programming is Anomaly Film Festival at The Little Theatre in Rochester, NY. “James and Cinematic Void do such an incredible job spreading the blood-soaked gospel of Giallo, and we’re eager to join in the hellish refrain,” says Adam Lubitow, Director of Programming for the Anomaly Film Festival.
Joining in on January Giallo for the first time for 2023 are the Sie FilmCenter and Scream Screen in Denver, CO, and Cinematery in Tempe, AZ. Andrea Canales, Director of Programming at Majestic Neighborhood Cinema Grill in Tempe, AZ adds, “We at Majestic are thrilled to be a part of this annual programming series. It is great to celebrate Giallo film under our Cinematery brand of weekly curated horror.”
Sie FilmCenter will be teaming up with Scream Screen to present a double bill on January 7th, featuring the Spanish Giallo, The Corruption Of Chris Miller, followed by Dario Argento’s much-sought-after Four Flies On Grey Velvet. “Scream Screen is thrilled to participate in January Giallo 2023! As a fan of Cinematic Void and all things Gialli, it’s an honor to bring JG to Denver for the first time,” says Theresa Mercado, Programmer and Host of Scream Screen, and Vinegar Syndrome Colorado representative. Keith Garcia, Artistic Director of the Sie FilmCenter adds, “Giallo is a scintillating subgenre that we never get to play enough of at the Sie FilmCenter, so it’s lovely to collaborate with other theaters around the country in our shared love of the dangerous, the demented, and the deliciously diabolical!”
Also returning for 2023 is Knoxville Horror Fest at Central Cinema in Knoxville, TN, and joining the party for the first time is Belcourt Theater in Nashville, TN. Here’s the full list of all of the theatres and films that will be part of the biggest “January Giallo” yet.
Cinematic Void Los Angeles at The American Cinematheque’s Los Feliz 3. All shows are presented on 35mm film. Tickets on sale Monday 12/12 at Cinematicvoid.com.
For the 2023 edition of January Giallo, Cinematic Void will screen these four intense, idiosyncratic, and not to be missed Italian and American Giallo films at the Los Feliz Three in Los Angeles. We are so excited.
1/2 A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin (Italian Language Technicolor print)
1/9 Formula For A Murder
1/16 Autopsy
1/23 Death Laid An Egg
1/30 I Know Who Killed Me
At the Coolidge After Midnite / Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA, their series of Italian Giallo frights is filled with fundamental films in the genre. Tickets are on sale now at Coolidge After Midnight.
1/7 Torso – uncut Italian language print in 35mm with CV’s Jim Branscome in person
1/14 A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin in 35mm
1/21 What Have You Done To Solange + The Five Fingers Of A Dog short film
1/28 Tenebrae in 35mm
Music Box of Horrors / Music Box Theatre in Chicago, IL will screen a line-up of distinctive Italian, Spanish and American Giallo films that will shock and thrill the audience. Tickets are on sale now at The Music Box Theatre.
1/3 All The Colors Of The Dark in 35mm
1/10 No One Heard The Scream
1/17 So Sweet … So Perverse
1/24 Tightrope in 35mm with CV’s Jim Branscome in person
1/31 A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin in 35mm
Anomaly Film Festival at The Little Theatre in Rochester, NY will screen these Giallo and Neo Giallo classics in January. Tickets are on sale now at The Little Theatre.
1/5 The Bird With The Crystal Plumage in 35mm
1/13 A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin
1/19 Stage Fright
1/27 Knife + Heart in 35mm
Cinematery at the Majestic Tempe 7 in Tempe, Arizona is dipping its toe into the Giallo pool with a magnificently weird Argento feature. Tickets are on sale now at Majestic Tempe 7.
1/31 Creepers in 35mm with CV’s Jim Branscome in person
“January Giallo” comes to the Denver Film / Sie FilmCenter in Denver, Colorado with this slate of twisted Italian and American Giallo films. Tickets are on sale now at Denver Film.
1/7 The Corruption Of Chris Miller / Four Flies On Grey Velvet – presented by Scream Screen
1/14 Deadly Games with CV’s Jim Branscome in person
1/21 I Know Who Killed Me
1/28 A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin
Knoxville Horror Fest / Central Cinema in Knoxville TV brings the Giallo festivities to town with these American and Italian Giallo nightmares. Tickets will be on sale soon.
1/4 & 1/7 Dressed To Kill & I Know Who Killed Me
1/12 The Bird With The Crystal Plumage
1/18 The Strange Vice Of Mrs. Wardh
1/25 The Editor
The Belcourt Theater in Nashville, Tennessee will sweep into the Giallo party with two of the most beloved Giallo classics. Tickets are available at belcourt.org
1/20 –Blood And Black Lace
1/21 – Tenebrae
Don’t be afraid to join in with the “January Giallo” festivities. These films have everything that the discerning horror fan could want and always have a few surprises that will always blow your mind. Gorgeous casts, diabolical killers, and plots that, more often than not, will leave your jaw hanging on the floor. Become one with “January Giallo” in the most frigid month of the year. Warm yourself with the elegant and violent horrors of films that aren’t afraid to get down and dirty. Who knows, you might even see the flash of a mysterious stranger stalking through the theatre, or maybe it’s just your imagination? With the magic of Giallo, you can never be sure what’s around that next corner.
