Now, the movie
isn’t scary—that I can assure you. But will it freak you out? That’s a definite
yes.
Anthony Hopkins
(Silence of the Lambs (1991)) was a genius in this movie. His portrayal
was masterful, and all through the film, I found myself praying that I never
run into a guy like him in my life. And if I ever do, I know all too well from
this movie not to piss him off.
Magic is a
1978 film about a man with a psychological problem—he has a double personality
disorder and lives out his second persona through a ventriloquist’s dummy named
Fats. The whole movie boils down to one character: Corky (Anthony Hopkins). It
was crucial that he made his portrayal strong because the entire film revolves
around him and him alone, and how he struggles to live his life without his
dummy, Fats.
Corky is a
magician struggling to make it big until he introduces Fats into his act, which
makes his show more admirable and popular. But when he’s required to undergo a
psych evaluation before a big show in Vegas, he panics and decides to return to
his childhood neighborhood to reconnect with his childhood crush.
It’s there that
things take a dark turn.
The part of the
movie that really stood out for me was the scene where Corky and Ben sit face
to face, and Ben asks Corky to sit for five minutes without letting Fats speak
a word. The entire two minutes it lasts are just intense, leaving you
wondering, “Is he going to break? When is he going to break?”
Magic is a
clever movie, and the screenplay was written by William Goldman, who also wrote
the novel it’s based on. The movie runs smoothly, steadily building tension
until one of the personalities starts to take over. Then, we see the battle
raging between Corky and Fats, and the film takes a turn that will forever
cement it in my mind as a classic freaky movie.
The movie
doesn’t rely on the special effects that plague so many modern films, nor does
it use a large cast like some horror flicks where many characters have to die
before you realize the movie is supposed to be scary. Instead, it focuses on
ensuring that Anthony Hopkins, as Corky, is a well-rounded actor who can
deliver the intensity required to freak the living daylights out of you.
Magic is a
classic horror flick that horror fans should see and enjoy. From Hopkins’
wonderful performance to the masterful presence of Burgess Meredith (Grumpy Old
Men (1993) and Grumpier Old Men (1995)), it’s a film that leaves
a lasting impression.
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