The Psychic (1977)
Suddenly and without warning it’s tomorrow… and you’re dead.
Sette Note in Nero (1977) is a refreshing feminist take on the giallo, given that a woman is at the helm of the amateur investigation, and ultimately closes the case.
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The film is surprisingly progressive, from the above and beyond competency of the women in the workforce, to the physical destruction of the walls of the palazzo reflecting the destruction of the domestic space as we (then) know it. This film does not lose its intrigue because of the female leads, their dialogue, or their depth of character. Like other giallo, you want to get to the bottom of the crime(s) alongside these sleuths to face the horrors, not work against them.
The wardrobe alone could be the subject of a scholarly paper, for both its strong use of red to its masculine style.
I would be willing to include this particular film in a course on feminist film studies, even though it has a male director (Lucio Fulci), and a white and privileged lead.
Four out of five stars.
The Psychic is available to stream on Tubi, and could be available on DVD at your local library. This post was orignally published on https://substack.com/@oliviakt07.
