THE PSYCHIC (1977)

One of these feature walls has to go

Those that follow Italian film history know that Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci had a tormented, Mozart and Salieri-style relationship throughout the '70s and '80s, with Fulci alternately praising Argento, or calling him a nepo-bambino who couldn’t direct or write a coherent scene to save his life. Or something.

It’s childish to take a side in a made-up Giallo-war…but if I had to pick the best films of the genre I’d pick several by Lucio Fulci. Of course, things became inconsistent as he went into the horror business in the 80s.  As his longtime writer Dardano Sachetti said, “Fulci liked to bet on the horses you know.  He couldn’t be too choosy with work.” [Shrugs in Italian]

The Psychic is very different than those final films. Released in Italy as Seven Notes in Black, Jennifer O’Neill is an interior decorator with psychic powers. (If only!)  While renovating the country house of her new busin…