Giallo films are considered a subgenre of slasher films, which are another type of horror film. Giallo films are slasher films characterized by Italian filmmakers. The term itself also originates from Italy. Giallo, meaning “yellow,” is the cover color of most books featuring suspense and crime stories. Given that Italian slasher films also draw on the content of these novels, it is not surprising that they were named “Giallo.” Giallo films contain elements of sexploitation; some resemble detective films, while others feature suspense and horror elements. Mario Bava and Dario Argento are the directors who established the characteristic structure of Giallo films and produced the most well-known works in this genre. A large number of films were produced under the Giallo genre from the 1960s through the 1980s. The 1970s, in particular, were a very prolific period. References to Alfred Hitchcock are frequently found within the genre. Although Giallo is a local subgenre, many foreign actors—primarily American and British—have starred in Giallo films. Slasher films, which gained popularity in the United States and around the world, owe a great deal to Giallo. Giallo is a powerful subgenre of Slasher that has shaped the genre.