Italians have a rich culture to draw from thanks to their Roman heritage and that wellspring is often the source of inspiration for much of their media.
Italian movies and series take advantage of their storied history and their magnificent architecture to craft some wonderful plots and provide high-quality content. Italian thrillers are a top export of the industry and they are filled to the brim with suspense and action. Here is a list of 10 Italian thriller movies & series you must watch:
1. Suburra – La serie (Suburra: Blood on Rome)
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Alessandro Borghi, Giacomo Ferrara, Filippo Nigro, Carlotta Antonelli, Paola Sotgiu, Francesco Acquaroli
Rome is flung into chaos when a three-way struggle for power begins between the church, the government, and members of organized crime. An almighty battle takes place with bodies dropping and influential people everywhere scheming to stay at the top where they think they belong.
This series was Netflix’s first Italian language original and it garnered heavy praise for its soundtrack and filming. The portrayal of the seedy underbelly of Rome was spot on.
2. La ragazza nella nebbia (The Girl in the Fog)
Available on: Apple TV+
Cast: Toni Servillo, Alessio Boni, Lorenzo Richelmy, Galatea Ranzi, Michela Cescon, Jean Reno
A 15-year-old girl disappears in a remote town and detective Vogel is called in to take the lead on the case. Vogel has a history of bending the rules to his advantage and is also known for his attention-grabbing tactics. Throughout his investigation, multiple suspicious people come up, and no one comes out of this situation with a clean image.
A brilliant story with many twists and turns, this Italian thriller film promises to have you on the edge of your seat right up till the conclusion.
3. Yara
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Isabella Ragonese, Alessio Boni, Thomas Trabacchi, Sandra Toffolatti, Roberto Zibetti, Mario Pirrello
A determined prosecutor aims to leave no stone unturned in the search of the killer responsible for the death of a 13-year-old girl in a small town in Bergamo. She goes to unprecedented lengths and through several hurdles to get to the bottom of this case despite the pushback she receives from higher-ups who believe that she is not up to the task.
An Italian thriller film meant to keep you on your toes, ‘Yara’ boasts wonderful performances by its cast and chilling background score that adds to the intensity of the film.
4. Nero a metà (Carlo & Malik)
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Claudio Amendola, Miguel Gobbo Diaz, Fortunato Cerlino, Rosa Diletta Rossi, Margherita Vicario, Antonia Liskova
Two police inspectors of wildly different dispositions are teamed up to solve cases together. Carlo is a stubborn veteran who has made his way up the hard way while Malik is a young brilliant detective who has just graduated from the academy with flying colours. Together with their colleagues at the station, they learn to work together despite their differences in approach.
A well-recommended series, Carlo & Malik focuses on many social issues and a multitude of cases that pique the interest of the audience.
5. Vallanzasca – Gli angeli del male (Angel of Evil)
Available on: Apple TV+
Cast: Kim Rossi Stuart, Filippo Timi, Valeria Solarino, Moritz Bleibtreu, Paz Vega, Francesco Scianna
Acclaimed bank robber Renato Vallanzasca sits in his prison cell and reminisces about his youth in the 70s as he served as the head of the Vallanzasca gang that was responsible for countless crimes including robberies, kidnappings, murders and evasions. He also had a tenuous relationship with members of the rival crime families.
A fun biographical depiction of a man who lived an exciting yet dangerous life, this Italian thriller is high on adrenaline and violence.
6. Vendetta: Guerra nell’antimafia (Vendetta: Truth, Lies and the Mafia)
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Pino Maniaci, Silvana Saguto, Bartolomeo Parrino, Mauro Terranova, Letizia Maniaci, Patrizia Marchione
A docu-series about two of the biggest figures in Italy’s anti-mafia movement of the 1990s, Pino Maniaci and Silvana Saguto, and their heated rivalry that was in front of the whole world to see. Maniaci was a journalist who spoke his mind on television and for that, he feared for his life, Saguto was a judge who tried many cases and passed many judgments against the mafia. But is either of them free of guilt.
A chilling account of very real events that took place, this docu-series has the right amount of thrill and shock factor to keep it engaging for the audience.
7. The Place
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Valerio Mastandrea, Marco Giallini, Alessandro Borghi, Silvio Muccino, Alba Rohrwacher, Vittoria Puccini
A group of 9 random strangers meet with a mysterious man at a restaurant called ‘The Place’, each with their dreams and needs. They believe that this man can grant their wishes, and in return, they have to perform a single task of his choosing. These people do not know what they’re getting into but it is their desperation that drives them to ignore all signs of trouble.
A daring and intriguing concept, this Italian thriller is spectacularly written and is backed up by top-notch performances from the cast.
8. Dogman
Available on: Hulu
Cast: Marcello Fonte, Edoardo Pesce, Nunzia Schiano, Adamo Dionisi, Francesco Acquaroli, Gianluca Gobbi
Marcello is an unassuming dog groomer who lives a simple life with his young daughter. He also sells cocaine on the side for the extra money but stays out of real trouble. He is constantly being harassed by a former boxer who has violent tendencies and is a menace to the whole neighbourhood. Marcello is pushed to the brink and will do anything to go back to his normal life and keep his daughter safe.
A very grim and serious Italian thriller, the sombre tone of this film fits perfectly with the story of Marcello and his aims to survive.
10. Gomorra: La serie (Gomorrah)
Available on: HBO Max
Cast: Salvatore Esposito, Marco D’Amore, Ivana Lotito, Cristiana Dell’Anna, Alessandro Palladino, Fortunato Cerlino
The story revolves around the Savastano crime family of Naples and how the members of the family deal with a civil war while also keeping their rivals at bay on the outside. As the clan seeks to rise to the top, they will leave behind many casualties in their wake as that is the cost of power in the underworld.
A critically acclaimed Italian thriller series, ‘Gomorrah’ has been praised for pacing, atmosphere, characterization, writing, directing and acting.
Also Read: Streaming Calendar: All shows and films coming out in 2022