MAGIC (1978)

Ventriloquist dolls are creepy. That's just a fact of life. Especially where they shout, scream and murder people. Magic is an intense psychological thriller from the pen of William Goldman, directed by Richard Attenbourough (who some say was just doing this for the money to make Ghandi). Its the story of Corky, a nerdy magician and his stage partner Fats, a creepy dummy. But who controls who?

Hopkins is great as the disturbed main character and the film paints a excellent picture of the inner struggle to do whats right between what you want to do. But its not all good. One of the problems is that Hopkins and Fats are supposed to be funny. Countless characters fall about laughing at the funny antics of the doll, but its just not funny. Its constantly menacing looking and Hopkins "Fats" voice gets irritating after a while. Also the last shot just didnt really work for me. Still, Burgess Meredith hams it up as Corky's agent and the score by Jerry Goldsmith is fanastic (released by Varese Sarabande in a great edition but now sold out). There's also a great moment toward the end of the film when we glimpse Corky's eyes move on their own hinting at a possible supernatural element. I was glad they left it at that, but its was an intriguing little inclusion.

Catch this film for an intense and well acted study of the inner struggle, and for some great cinematography and spooky scenes. But in the end, it's not quite as magic as it could have been.

The Anchor Bay DVD edition (Dark Sky on region one) is very good with a georgeous print, decent 5.1 mix and some enjoyable special features including an original TV spot that is just downright freaky. (A close up Fats reciting a poem frantically-yikes!)

Film: 6/10

PO: 2 (features some nudity, violence and swearing).