Magic

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Mitch C Anthony Hopkins takes this story on his back and keeps it safe from a disappointment. It's a good idea don't get me wrong and maybe I was naive in thinking maybe - just maybe - Fats might actually be a living entity which would have been both slightly predictable but acceptable at the same time. The doll is sinister - beautifully crafted and for the quality of it, I kind of hoped it might just become real but the story they go with is more down the logical side. Hopkins gives it his all and his deterioration is always present from the moment you realise he voluntarily converses with the object with no intention of professional practice. The worst people in this movie are the protagonists with Ann-Margret's Peggy showing her true colours when you realise her husband is not the ogre he is made out to be. Burgess Meredith is the star of much of this - ironically beginning as somebody you feel may be the unlikeable one and morphing into a caring, sensible sort. It could have ended better. The final scene seemed a bit clunky and unnecessary Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/08/25 Full Review BRizz 2 Movie Review: Magic (1978) Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret Directed by: Richard Attenborough Magic is a 1978 psychological thriller marketed as a horror film — but after watching it, I can say with confidence that the “horror” label is misleading. Yes, there’s a creepy ventriloquist doll and yes, there’s a murder or two, but the movie is far more of a slow-burn character study about mental illness than anything genuinely frightening. Anthony Hopkins, in his younger years, gives a committed and at times unsettling performance as Corky, a ventriloquist whose doll “Fats” begins to take on a life of its own — though not literally. Fats never moves on his own, never walks, and while he does talk, it’s through Corky’s voice — a detail that makes the “possession” angle feel more like a metaphor for psychological breakdown than any supernatural event. I personally didn’t find the film scary at all, despite all the hype. It was pitched to me as a chilling horror classic, but what I got was more of a mental health drama wrapped in a slightly eerie package. The story leans heavily into Corky’s unraveling mind, but the pacing drags, and the tension never truly escalates into anything memorable. The ending, unfortunately, left a bad taste — cheesy, corny, and unsatisfying. It felt abrupt and didn’t stick the landing. The direction was a bit off at times, and some moments in the script felt undercooked or just plain awkward. That said, Magic isn’t an awful film. It’s watchable. The atmosphere and performances — particularly from Hopkins — carry it more than the story or scares do. But it’s not a movie I would ever revisit, nor is it one I’d rank as highly as many others seem to. It’s not a one-star disaster, but for me, it’s definitely not the horror gem it’s made out to be. Final Verdict: 🪆 Interesting concept, poor execution 🧠 More psychological drama than horror 👀 Worth one watch — but that’s it Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/26/25 Full Review Tasos L I've gotten bored! There are better movies in psychological thriller genre. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/09/24 Full Review Brian O A very effective psychological thriller, thanks to Anthony Hopkins' performance and judicial direction from Richard Attenborough. Makes Chucky looks like, well, child's play. Pun intended. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/23/24 Full Review Horror fan 4 Anthony Hopkins delivers a great performance in this horror movie. The build up to the 3Rd act is a little long but other than that a great directed and acted movie. Tim Treakle Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/15/24 Full Review Kalin D I'm really glad for the resolution in the concluding scene. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/17/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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