 Sole was also influenced by the works of Alfred Hitchcock, as well as the 1955 French film "Les Diaboliques", while assembling compositions in the film.Although many critics have drawn comparisons to Italian giallo films and the works of Dario Argento in particular, Sole claimed to have not seen Argento's work at the time.Nonetheless, the film's incorporation of subtle dark humor and its unsympathetic portrayal of religion — both motifs of giallo thrillers — led to the film's reputation as the most "gialloesque" American film in history.