Product: Magic [VHS] (1978)
Rating: 4.0
REAL HORROR NEVER DIES!!!
This review has nothing to do with the above pictured videotape edition of this film. If the other reviews are to be believed (and I see no reason why they shouldn't) this tape contains a cut version of "Magic" which I must nay-say on general principle. And now back to Matt's life:I first saw this movie at about the age of six or seven when it premiered on network television. Of course I'd already been intrigued and frightened near to death by the super-creepy t.v. spot that ran in 1978 (kudos to other reviewers here for reminding me of that little gem after twenty-some years). While the film in no way dissuaged my intent on becoming a professional magician and ventriloquist, it did spook me pretty good. Now, after over a decade, I finally decided to revisit the past.While the film certainly isn't great, it is nowhere near as bad as some people would have you believe. It also does not approach the level of banality to which Mr. Hopkins has, in recent years, apparently resigned himself. While I have never been old Tony's biggest booster, I think a case can be made for his performance here. If nothing else, the role is the perfect showcase for his acting style and those who go into the film loving him will only love him more. Ann-Margret does a good turn as Peggy-Ann Snow and Burgess Meredith trots out his usually excellent curmudgeon bit. While the whole dummy/ventriloquist personality swap is nothing new to the genre ("Dead of Night" as well as a Twilight Zone episode starring Cliff Robertson come to mind as but two forerunners), this film is nonetheless dark, bleak, menacing, creepy, powerful and very scary. It's not perfect. The love scene between Ann and Tony is even yuckier today than it was when I was five. It is, however, worth a good deal more attention than it has been alotted in recent years. I'm praying for a DVD with the t.v. spot to hit the shelves very soon.Some interesting points to watch out for:*William Goldman's dialogue is just as fast paced and witty as anything David Mamet has ever written and really shows his chops as a screenwriter.*David Ogden Stiers (whose presence pretty much guarantees watchability in any scene he happens to be in, though here he is only in three).*Ed Lauter (if you don't know the name you surely know the face. Rent "True Romance" or, if you're into bad movies, "Death Wish 3." The guy plays the same hard ass over and over, but does it better than anybody.)*Check out how closely Corky's face resembles Fats in the scene where he waits for Peg to pick up the wooden heart. Probably the scariest shot in the film.*The scene where Ben challenges Corky to keep Fats quiet for five minutes is undoubtedly brilliant, but is closely followed by the scene where Fats really exercises his control. Corky screams with a migraine then crawls around on the floor on his hands and knees in a sicko-psycho-Simon-Says game with the dummy.*Peg's closing line is, I think, supposed to be her own ventriloquist character voice. I always thought it was a dubbing flaw, but now I don't believe so. It's a very weird way to cap the film.*Check out how Corky's entrance in the final scene with Fats mirrors his entrance in the opening scene with Merlin, his ailing mentor. There are several similarities and ironies not the least of which is that in both cases Corky is relating false events of what just happened to him.As I say, not a perfect flick, but hopefully the above list will tickle your fancy enough to give it chance. And if anybody out there knows anyone at Twentieth Century Fox, please exercise some influence and get this puppy on a DVD. Thanks.