Magic

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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 J M Forget about Chucky and M3gan and Annabelle and all the other horror movie dolls out there. Fats is the most legitimately creepy of them all, and this is an incredibly disturbing and entertaining psychological thriller that gets under your skin. Hopkins is absolutely amazing here in a performance that deserves to be recognized among his greatest achievements. I think he warranted an Oscar nomination. He is disturbing and absolutely mesmerizing. I particularly loved how so much of the film has you questioning whether Fats is his own entity or whether we are seeing the doll through Corky's imbalanced eyes. Ann-Margret is one of the most under-appreciated actresses of this era, and the scenes between her and Hopkins are simultaneously eerie and romantic. Meredith is also wonderful in a supporting role as Corky's agent. All performances are on point, particularly for a film of this genre. My only real complaint is an unsatisfying final scene that feels a bit abrupt. And it bogs down just a bit when Peggy's husband enters the picture. But I was transfixed throughout, and I had no idea where we were heading. And Fats is a nightmare-inducing creation that feels ahead of his time. It's short on gore, high on atmosphere and totally suspenseful. Corky feels like an heir apparent of Norman Bates, and I can't think of a greater compliment. - Jeff Marshall, Movie Blogger (Facebook) Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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