IN DEFENCE OF: Magic (1978)

[@bhamacuk]

One of my all time favourite films. And yes, I have watched it a few times on my own before I went to bed!

[@remix71]

I LOVE the 5 minutes scene, the fidgeting was so natural. As was the moment he concedes that he's not gonna make it.

[@INDEFENCEOF]

It's the moment you know he's doomed in general. No coming back from that.

[@scottyb003]

I watched this a few months ago, and it was really good.

[@KillDozer44]

Just watched this tonight with me lady. It was great

[@bobthebear1246]

_Magic_ is a lost gem. It's a really quirky, effective thriller, with great writing, direction and acting. Definitely recommended. 3.5 stars.

[@drawnimo]

I watched this after you mentioned it in your chucky video and loved it! truly baffled why its so unknown. it has so many genuinely creepy moments. thanks for the recommend!

[@INDEFENCEOF]

I suspect with some of the more high profile movies I review (by which I mean bigger stars, directors, producers) it's that they're caught in a crossfire of genres. Magic is too much of a horror to be considered a mainstream drama, but too romantic and dramatic to be popular with the horror crowd. No matter who the movie is marketed to, it sets up expectations that can't be fully met.

[@homelesshannah50]

Chucky ain't got SHIT on Fats[I mean in terms of sheer terror]

[@kaneclarke4825]

A seriously good movie everyone should watch.

[@horrorhoundnj9689]

So glad I found the channel & this upload. Magic is a masterpiece In filmmaking, crafted with precision and intelligence. The cast,The Lighting & score we're brilliant. It's a truly underated and misunderstood film. Anthony Hopkins & Anne Margaret are brilliant together and held great chemistry with the additions of Fats the dummy who adds true chills, Not to forget Meredith Burgress did a fantastic job playing the role of Corkeys manager. And the score while not John Willams or such composers was terrific with the brilliance of the subtle harmonica is crafted perfectly the score alone will send chills down your spine. I couldn't agree more with your retrospect of the film. Magic holds strong till this day in age, In a world that only produces recycled concepts & ideas and are labeled as entertainment I'm certainly glad films like Magic are always there to enjoy. Terrific upload, It's always great to see other's whom have watched Magic & enjoyed it the movie is a underrated gem.

[@keithgilliard9191]

We flocked to the theatres in 1978 for this huge hit!

[@maxstirner8717]

Watched this movie when I was 8. I wasn’t supposed to, but I did anyway, and I’m glad I did. Here’s to rebellion 🍺

[@maxstirner8717]

The movie doesn’t at all need defending - nevertheless, good work.

[@INDEFENCEOF]

It's not forgotten or derided but definitely overlooked. Currently sitting at around 7.5k reviews on IMDb, around the same as grindhouse entries like The New York Ripper. It deserves a FAR bigger audience!

[@maxstirner8717]

IN DEFENCE OF: Concurred.

[@myfriendisaac]

Easily the best “Puppet” movie ever made. Just finished it & came straight to KZbin to gush about it 😂👏🏾🎬🍿

[@dong9514]

I remember being freaked out by the original TV. advertisement. As for the movie top notch.

[@DyenamicFilms]

It baffles me how this ended up a 'forgotten' film as it was as big a release as any other horror/thriller back then. Well, I loved it and never forgot it. I remember seeing the trailer for Magic with Fats on TV as a kid. I had to see it. Luckily I was able to, but I had to get my parent's permission as it was Rated R. Magic holds the distinction of being the first R rated movie I saw in the theater. Reminds me of another forgotten horror film that I love and never forgot called The Other. I was really young when I saw the trailer for that one as well which scared me, but I didn't get to see that one in the theater. Way too young. Coincidentally, both Magic and The Other were released by 20th Century Fox and scored by Jerry Goldsmith.

[@leadingblind1629]

Worship this movie. Hopkins never stops amazing me. Never.

[@bontrent2723]

Couldn`t agree more if I tried. An absolute masterpiece !!

[@SadBnnuy]

Was the first Anthony Hopkins movie I saw (I'm 28) I'd heard about him from Hannibal but never saw it as it was probably too scary. The 5min scene of him being quiet was so well done. The trailer still creeps me out 😅

[@str5295]

Born in 74. Watched this movie with my mom whenever it came on TV. Loved it as a child when I thought the dummy was evil. Love it as adult when I know Corky is insane. One of my faves.

[@stephenusaf6315]

I was only 11 when this came out; never saw it in the theater (too young), but I distinctly remember it being a hit. There was even a parody of it on a TV variety show with Gary Coleman as the dummy.

[@INDEFENCEOF]

Oh boy, that's something I've got to see.

[@Apothekari]

The scene where Corky uses Fats (or Vice/Versa?) to beat Burgess Meredith's Green to death in the woods and then is interrupted by Peg and we hear groaning we assume is Meredith to only then find out is Fats is absolutely bone chilling.

[@NoLanConnection]

One of the best Anthony Hopkins performances.

[@CMinorOp67]

3:38: I know/knew the doll wasn’t alive…and it has been years since I’ve seen the movie…but I could have sworn there was a scene near the end where Anthony Hopkins put the doll down on the couch…and the doll’s head and eyes move while Anthony walks away. I guess that was still just an illusion of his psychotic break…? That scene is what really scared me as a kid.

[@derajnitram1882]

Definitely worth a watch, it's Hannibal before he was Hannibal with a creepy doll, what's not to love?

[@CaminoAir]

Thanks for your review and raising the profile of this almost forgotten movie. The advertising campaign had trouble trying to devise a marketing angle for this film, which is understandable. The Jerry Goldsmith score is typically fine and thanks for mentioning the music score (something which is neglected in too many film reviews). The Goldman novel is well worth searching out. I take your point about Duke and repetition, but Ed Lautner is one of those reliable character actors who always adds something to a movie.

[@INDEFENCEOF]

Oh I love Ed Lauter, one of those guys who shows up in everything from Star Trek to Death Wish 3 and brings a bit of class!

[@DaughterofDarkness]

This is one of the most underrated movies of all time.

[@INDEFENCEOF]

With the talent behind it you'd expect to be hearing about it far more, definitely an older generation of kids scarred by the old trailer/TV spot though!

[@DaughterofDarkness]

@@INDEFENCEOFI saw it on KZbin. Man, that trailer is a masterpiece! I have a new horror narration channel on here, and this coming Thursday I'm narrating a (supposedly) true story about a possessed ventriloquists dummy. That's what led me to Magic. Man, the talent involved is so impressive!

[@DyenamicFilms]

Magic and The Other are two of the most underrated horror films of all time if you ask me.

[@DyenamicFilms]

@@INDEFENCEOF I was one of those kids. I saw it in the theater. The first Rated R movie I ever saw. It does surprise me that Magic is somewhat a forgotten movie. Even so called Anthony Hopkins fans haven't seen (or even heard of) this movie when I ask them. They think of Hannibal Lecter when they see Anthony Hopkins. I always think of Corky Withers.

[@dominoep]

This was one of my favourite movies when I was 5 years old...

[@INDEFENCEOF]

Holy cow, were you on Texas Chain Saw before you finished grade school?!

[@jacobc.8915]

A fantastic defense, as usual. I've been very curious about this one while glancing through Goldsmith's filmography, home to other underrated 70s genre gems like the 1972 chiller The Other from "To Kill a Mockingbird" director Robert Mulligan, as well as George P. Cosmatos's desolate 1976 European disaster flick The Cassandra Crossing. Magic is another one of these fine films, now with a secure spot on the my watchlist. One again, phenomenal review man, keep it up!

[@INDEFENCEOF]

I'm not aware of Cosmatos' output aside from the Stallone movies from the mid 80s so I just had a look at the Cassandra Crossing. An all-star cast train movie about an infection? I'm checking that out! Looks like he made a horror movie with a young Peter Weller too. Add that to the list too!

[@jacobc.8915]

IN DEFENCE OF: The mood of Cassandra Crossing is unlike any other disaster film, with a chilliness to rival Argento's Tenebre, and Goldsmith's music being some of his most haunting & romantic. I hope you enjoy it, I'm planning on grabbing a multi-format release of it that comes with another title I'm not to familiar with, The Domino Principle. One of the nicest surprises I've had in a while when digging for obscure films.

[@sf-dn8rh]

Story sorta reminds me of a twilight zone episode with a dummy who switches with his voice

[@fynnthefox9078]

It's a shame that this movie is so overlooked. Especially since this was BEFORE Anthony Hopkins was known as Hannibal Lector.

[@INDEFENCEOF]

Hopkins put in some seriously sweaty performances pre-Lector. It's a wonder he got cast in that role at all as it was against his type at that point.

[@homelesshannah50]

Jerry Goldsmith did the score and I think the harmonica screeching like it's being played by a madman in an asylum addsto the creepy factor. He's basically saying Corky can be normal when he's away from Fats but the minute Fats comes into the picture everybody watch the fuck out.

[@Enshohma]

I just discovered this channel and it's amazing! I'm sad to hear you stopped after MANHUNTER but you have my vote for coming out of retirement.

[@jakespur6094]

Loved this movie. Ann-Margret is mesmerizing

[@INDEFENCEOF]

I always feel so sad for her towards the end :(

[@aledproductions3492]

Just saw this video, I agree with everything you said! This is truly a masterpiece that completely went under the radar. I'm such a huge fan I even made a Fats replica (here on my channel).

[@INDEFENCEOF]

I've just had a look and holy cow that Fats dummy is awesome! Unmistakably Fats.

[@jakespur6094]

Big box office hit when it opened

[@INDEFENCEOF]

Apparently so! I was reading into it and it seems the home video rights were contested which meant it didn't get a widespread VHS or DVD release until a good 20 years after its release. That probably hurt its ability to build up the following it deserves.

[@homelesshannah50]

No it wasn't 20 Century didn't even distribute it on VHS

[@CMinorOp67]

When I was a 7, I wanted (and got) a ventriloquist dummy for Easter. Then, somehow, months later…I came across this movie on HBO or something and my doll was promptly buried in the storage room of the basement. Only for my older brother to find and hide in strategic locations for me to come across. He lived to scare me. Even after that, I read the book. In 3rd grade, I was the student who would read to the class during a particular part of the day, while the teacher graded papers or something…and, without her knowledge or consent, for a couple of days I got away with reading from the novel “Magic”. Can’t remember what part I was reading aloud at the time, but I remember Mrs. Hayes’ head pop up, she looked at me for a moment, then asked what I was reading. Lol, she wasn’t mad..but was just like, “oh, no…we can’t read that”.

[@Supermariorpg6]

Hey where are you??

[@justanotherchris1451]

Ya kinda forgot Burgess Meredith

[@INDEFENCEOF]

The limitations of 5 minutes!

[@lucyschoon5585]

I suspect this was one of the Influences behind the joker...

[@INDEFENCEOF]

I assume you mean the Heath Ledger version? As the Joker was created around 40 years before Magic. :)

[@plasticweapon]

you kids and your joker...

[@brettcarroll8760]

Its never really clarified is Burges Meredith character dies

[@railimarotto2561]

The fucking puppet looks like a titan, from aot.