Opening with an erotic discourse in the world of bondage play, Tulpa takes no time in getting to the mean spirited murder that has characterized much of Sachetti's work over the years. The story follows Lisa, who works for an international trading firm. She's good at her job and obviously has the favor of her boss, much to her co-worker's distaste, but she is driven by a hunger to a secret club hidden in a parking garage where she engages in erotic adventure with other club members. Not as classy as the club in Eyes Wide Shut, but functional and effective. The only problem is that someone is killing off members of the club that Lisa in particular has come into contact with. Couple that with the regular stress from work and Lisa quickly finds herself being driven toward a nervous breakdown.
Sachetti is most famous for his work with iconic gore master Lucio Fulci, co-writing or embellishing many of the late auteur's greatest films, and his mark is quite evident here. The opening scene contains a murder scene so mean spirited that it gives The New York Ripper's nipple slicing scene a run for it's money. Couple that with it's somewhat typical view of "sexual deviancy" and presto! Giallo a Italia. That is not to say that film doesn't work, but it does unfortunately succumb to many of the more disappointing stereotypes of the genre.
The lighting of the film is bathed in shadows, evoking a sense of film noir and danger at every corner. Juxtaposed with the club being washed in deep red, a not so subtle foreshadowing, Tulpa definitely feels like a true Giallo a la Fulci, only missing out in the zoom lens department. The shots are all composed well to maintain the air of fear and dread as the killer stalks and kills their victims. I found myself delighted to see that the wardrobe of the killer was a clear nod to the faceless fedora and trench coat wearing killers of Blood and Black Lace and other early entries to the genre.
While it's not my favorite of what I've seen so far, it's not a bad entry into the canon by any means, it's just not particularly outstanding either. Though it's better than Blackaria, even with Sachetti attached on the script, Tulpa is still a little too straight forward in it's approach to mark it above other films of the genre. Worth a watch, but outside of the opening scene, there isn't too much replay value.
