Magic

Here’s a horror film that makes use of one of the best types of comedy acts around: the ventriloquist and his dummy. The best horror films come out of simple things that appear funny on the surface.

Anthony Hopkins is sensational as Corky, a young man who fails as a magician, but succeeds as a ventriloquist with his dummy Fats. After nearly suffering a mental breakdown, he goes home to try and sort out his life. He meets his old sweetheart, Peg (Ann Margret). She’s married to Duke (Ed Lauter), so no relationship can be built between them, and Fats becomes more and more abusive towards Corky. Soon, Corky’s unable to see Fats as a mere dummy.

When Ben (Burgess Meredith), Corky’s agent, shows up, Corky is clearly on the verge of total madness. Their scene together is positively chilling; and when Corky snaps and kills him, it’s sure to make you hide your eyes. Later, when Duke discovers this, Corky kills him as well. He then goes to Peg and professes his love to her, and asks her to run away with him. She agrees, on the condition that he’ll get rid of Fats and that she will have time to tell Duke she’s leaving him. These conditions drive Fats to order Corky to kill Peg. But, he can’t do it. Instead, he stabs himself, and then lies down with Fats so that they might die together. What he doesn’t know is that Peg has changed her mind; she’s decided to not wait for Duke to return. She goes to Corky’s cabin and calls out to him, but gets no answer.