Quentin Tarantino has never been shy about wearing his influences on his sleeve, and few filmmakers have shaped his aesthetic as profoundly as Italian horror maestro Lucio Fulci. While Fulci is best known for his gut-churning gore epics like The Beyond and City of the Living Dead, Tarantino has repeatedly championed a lesser-known gem from the director's filmography: The Psychic (1977), a stylish giallo-meets-supernatural thriller that the Pulp Fiction director once called "one of my favorite thrillers." Now, this cult classic is streaming for free on Tubi, giving a new generation the chance to see why it captivated one of cinema's most obsessive cinephiles.
A Restrained Fulci Masterpiece
Originally released in Italy as Sette note in nero, The Psychic finds Fulci operating in a more restrained mode than the splatter-heavy works that would define his later career. The film follows Virginia (Jennifer O'Neill), a wealthy housewife who begins experiencing terrifying psychic visions—including a woman throwing herself off a cliff and a murder that echoes Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. When she discovers a literal skeleton hidden in the walls of her husband's vacation home, she becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, even as her sanity begins to unravel.
Fulci directs with a remarkable sense of calm and dread, channeling Hitchcock's Rebecca and Vertigo while adding his own surreal touches. The film is a showcase for his versatility, proving he could craft psychological suspense as effortlessly as visceral horror. It's a crucial reminder that Fulci was more than just a gorehound—he was a true genre chameleon.
Tarantino's Fulci Obsession
Tarantino's admiration for Fulci is well-documented. In the 1990s, he helped reintroduce The Beyond to American audiences through his Rolling Thunder distribution company, and he has often cited Fulci's work as containing "greatest moments in cinema history." But his love for The Psychic runs even deeper. In interviews, he has raved about Jennifer O'Neill's performance, saying, "I love everything about that movie." He even spent years trying to mount a remake with Jackie Brown star Bridget Fonda in the lead, but rights issues ultimately shelved the project.
Fans of Tarantino will immediately recognize one of The Psychic's most haunting elements: its recurring orchestral theme, composed by Fulci's frequent collaborator Fabio Frizzi. That same melody plays during a pivotal moment in Kill Bill Vol. 1, when Uma Thurman's Bride first awakens from her coma. It's a subtle but unmistakable tribute to a film that clearly left a mark on Tarantino's creative psyche.
Why You Should Watch It Now
For fans of Italian horror, Tarantino, or just well-crafted psychological thrillers, The Psychic is an essential watch. It's a classy, claustrophobic, and genuinely eerie piece of suspense filmmaking, complete with lush cinematography, a ton of surprises, and plenty of '70s fashion. And while it lacks the graphic gore of Fulci's later work, it's a perfect entry point for newcomers who want to understand his genius without the queasiness.
If you're in the mood for more edge-of-your-seat thrills, check out our list of the most nerve-shredding thrillers since 2010 or dive into seven near-perfect thrillers from the last two decades. And if you're a Tarantino completist, you might also enjoy another of his favorite films now streaming free.
So this Halloween season, skip the usual horror rewatches and give The Psychic a spin. It's a masterclass in suspense from a director who knew how to get under your skin—and it's all available for free on Tubi.
