The Love Witch is a film that is available on Netflix. It is a 2016 American horror film written and directed by Anna Biller. The film follows the story of Elaine, a modern-day witch who uses spells and potions to seduce and manipulate men. The Love Witch is known for its unique visual style and homage to 1960s and 1970s horror films. The film uses vibrant colors, detailed costumes, and stylized sets to create a retro aesthetic. This attention to detail extends to the film's storytelling, which is deliberately exaggerated and melodramatic, much like the films it pays homage to.

Magic 1978 cast

Anthony Hopkins Corky Withers / Fats (voice)

Ann-Margret Peggy Ann Snow

Burgess Meredith Ben Greene

Ed Lauter Duke

E.J. André Merlin

Jerry Houser Cab Driver

David Ogden Stiers George Todson

Lillian Randolph Sadie

Joe Lowry Club M.C.

Robert Hackman Father

Mary Munday Mother

Crew 14

Art

Richard Lawrence Art Direction

Terence Marsh Production Design

Camera

Victor J. Kemper Director of Photography

Costume & Make-Up

Shirlee Strahm Costumer

Crew

Gregory J. Barnett Stunt Coordinator

Directing

Richard Attenborough Director

Editing

John Bloom Editor

Production

Jane Feinberg Casting

Mike Fenton Casting

C.O. Erickson Executive Producer

Joseph E. Levine Producer

Richard P. Levine Producer

Sound

Jerry Goldsmith Original Music Composer

Writing

William Goldman Novel, Screenplay

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Magic

A ventriloquist is at the mercy of his vicious dummy while he tries to renew a romance with his high school sweetheart.

Cast

Director Director

Producers Producers

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Writer Writer

Original Writer Original Writer

Casting Casting

Editor Editor

Cinematography Cinematography

Production Design Production Design

Art Direction Art Direction

Stunts Stunts

Composer Composer

Studios

Country

Language

Alternative Titles

Magia, Magia Negra, Магия, Magic - Die Puppe des Grauens, Magic – Eine unheimliche Liebesgeschichte, A mágus, Magic - Magia, Ο Δολοφόνος με τα Δύο Πρόσωπα, Magic: El muñeco diabólico, Kúzlo, 傀儡凶手, Magi, 매직, マジック, Màgic

Genres

Themes

Releases by Date

Theatrical

08 Nov 1978

14 Feb 1979

03 Mar 1979

08 Mar 1979

• Netherlands 16
• UK 15

Digital

26 Mar 2021

Physical

12 Feb 2021

Releases by Country

France

14 Feb 1979

• Theatrical

12 Feb 2021

• Physical DVD & Blu-Ray

26 Mar 2021

• Digital VOD

Japan

03 Mar 1979

• Theatrical

Netherlands

08 Mar 1979

• Theatrical 16

UK

08 Mar 1979

• Theatrical 15

USA

08 Nov 1978

• Theatrical R

This attention to detail extends to the film's storytelling, which is deliberately exaggerated and melodramatic, much like the films it pays homage to. The film explores themes of love, desire, and the power dynamics between men and women. Elaine's use of magic to control men brings about unintended consequences, highlighting the dangers of manipulation and the complexities of relationships.

Popular reviews

This film is like a box of chocolates; you never know what to expect. I mean, you have a picture that would normally feature and be made by a low-level actor and director that everyone would probably forget. And yet, you have Richard Attenborough directing a film written by William Goldman, composed by Jerry Goldsmith, and starring a deranged young Anthony Hopkins in a dual role as this pathetic puppeteer and the voice of this diabolical puppet whose banter is all pure gold. It's bizarre, disturbing, and amusing; it's a film that, in a rational world, would never exist, but here it is. All in all, I'm not sure what more to say; if the cast and crew, as well as the premise of a disturbed guy who utilizes a spooky-looking puppet to offload his homicidal traumas, don't compel you to see this film, I'm not sure what will. TODAY SCHEDULE
Magic
Novitiate
Agnes of God
Forgotten

When you take your hand and put it inside of yourself and move the levers and gears that make you blink and talk and smile and raise your eyebrows to punctuate a sentence or improve your line delivery whose hand is it and whose voice? Uncanny from the very start, wherein the misdirection is that it never is not what it is and what it is doing all along even as it encourages us to forget a little here a little there, puts off our attention so that maybe we don't notice the lengthening shadows until night has really fallen and we can't find our way back to a place that never really was and we knew that all along but we forgot just a little here or there or forgot to pay attention but that isn't true because we wanted to even though we knew better and what does that always get us in the end?

anthony hopkins wearing matching sweaters with fats was so cute and i will be very upset if sam raimi doesn't include this in his remake

Corky is a struggling magician trying to get by on open mic nights with card tricks. Audiences aren't biting and desperation is setting in. That is until Corky spices up his routine and introduces Fats the ventriloquist dummy to audiences. Fats is the sharp personality that the shy Corky lacks and his addition has a tremendous impact on his life. On the verge of mainstream fame he takes Fats and runs away to escape the pressure. Up to the Catskills near an old love interest. A love interest who has no idea that Corky isn't himself anymore. He's different. Dangerously different. Young Anthony Hopkins and the great Burgess Meredith in the same film? That's a lot of legend on one…

For when there needs to be wtf oscars or Anthony Hopkins&Dummy matching dagger collar shirts and fair isle sweaters oscars. I found the whole card trick scene inexplicably hot WTF is wrong with me? That, um, oscar

This was a great psychological thriller and it’s one that’s been on my list forever. Hopkins is unsurprisingly fantastic in his role as the mentally unwell magician, Corky. The dummy (Fats) is as unsettling as most. You can tell there was a low production value but that doesn’t make the atmosphere any less eerie and effective or the story any less disturbing. There’s still lots of attention paid to the cinematography in creating scenes that are downright chilling. If you enjoy 70s horror, this is one of the good ones.

Devastating. I went in, not expecting Child’s Play, but something more traditionally spooky with a killer doll. What I got was more akin to Dead Ringers, with an incredible dual performance from Anthony Hopkins as Corky and his dummy Fats. The “five minutes” scene is gut-wrenching, and the ending cuts you open. “It was always just you.”

The scene where Burgess Meredith is attacked in the woods is amazing cinema. On the one hand, from a narrative perspective, it's a heavy scene. It's sad to see a character fall so far, so fast and hurt the only living person who has been looking out for him. On the other hand, It is insidiously hilarious. The mental image of Anthony Hopkins swinging a ventriloquist's dummy like a club at an old man while screaming in the puppet's voice. I almost passed out I was laughing so hard.

Every movie sex scene should be repeatedly intercut with a ventriloquist dummy staring into the mid-distance

Anthony Hopkins plays "Corky" and his dummy "Fats" in this psychological thriller with Corky slowly losing it while his other personality Fats takes control pushing Corky to be edgy which makes for a tense and uneasy ride.
The Corky character reminds you of "Norman Bates" while his Dummy Fats reminds you of "Mother Bates" and Hopkins does perfect portraying both parts.
7.8/10 🕺70's Horror & Thrillers Fever
👉 boxd.it/mpf5Y

Magic (1978)

We’re friends right? I mean, in a few weeks this site will hit its first anniversary and during this past year I think we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well. So I think it is time I finally reveal just how crazy my family is.

Now I’ve already mentioned my schizophrenic grandfather in an earlier review. Not that I would know (I never met him) but evidently he was a very nice man who merely thought he owned Detroit, was convinced his family was trying to kill him, which resulted in him quite the short temper and thus he decided to sleep with a shotgun under his bed. Pretty standard really. But make no mistake, he is hardly an outlier in our family.

Take for instance my older sister Kristen. While many of her exploits are unfit for print, she did have a very unique imaginary friend as a child, a Miss Karate Potty. Kristen and Karate Potty did all sorts of things together, in which they became the dearest of friends, culminating in Kristen being named Maid of Honor for the wedding of Miss Karate Potty to a Mr Judo Poop-o. The entire ceremony occurred in the backseat of our station wagon during our annual Christmas trip to Ohio. And have I mentioned that she tape recorded the entire ceremony for posterity?

Moving on to my mother, a woman who talks to herself. Not just the occasional odd phrase or statement, but entire conversations. While this was an odd quirk when she was younger, as she’s grown older the volume of these conversations have grown exponentially louder. What was once nearly imperceptible mumbling has now almost reached a normal speaking volume, As yet another cruel twist of fate it seems this unfortunate trait has been passed on to me, although I don’t talk to myself. No, according to Anna I grunt at myself when I am thinking, thus, I am unable to keep anything from her is she is within earshot.

Then of course, we have my father, whom I could name off a veritable laundry list of peccadilloes that are almost, but not quite certifiable. The granddaddy of them all though is the tale of his pinky finger, or lack there of as the case may be.

You see my little sister was a bit of an accident. While my family was never poor we also were certainly not well off. So the thought of having yet another mouth to feed was a bit of a strain on my parents, initially anyways. This would account for my father’s mind being elsewhere when using his table saw to cut a piece of wood for me, which also resulted in his pinky being displaced from his hand.

Now my father was rushed to the hospital where his doctor informed him that the finger couldn’t be salvaged, at which point in time my father, coked out on morphine, offered up this rather astute suggestion, “So are you going to give it to McDonald’s then?” But the real magic of this story happened my father returned home. Upon inspecting his table saw he discovered a small chunk of his finger was still on the saw blade. He of course did what any Gamble would do, he saved it.

Oh but I’m not finished. Over the years the “finger””has reached legendary status within our family. Now safely taped up inside a cabinet in his workshop, any Gamble home tour is not complete the grand reveal of the “finger”. It has even become a bit of a rite of passage for those who have attempted to court his daughters. You see, you aren’t officially part of the family until your eyes have rested upon his decaying nubbin.

For those of you who think I have forgotten my little sister Meghan, I am happy to report that I have not. But while she is a sweet and lovely girl who tends to worry more then necessary, she is otherwise sickeningly normal. Thus, our little Maggot is excluded from this particular narrative, though I’m quite sure I’ll work her in at some point in a later review. So I think it is safe to say I have experience dealing with people who may or may not quite be unhinged, and have a one or two loose screws that could benefit from a bit of maintenance. Which segues nicely into a little film directed by Richard Attenborough called Magic.

Corky Withers (Anthony Hopkins) is magician that is about to make it big. He’s toured the country and been a huge hit on the Johnny Carson show and his agent (Burgess Meredith) has just informed him that he is being offered his own television special, pending a psychological test. The problem is, Corky secretly suffers from multiple personality disorder, and he is slowly losing control as his “partner” Fats begins to take over, and Fats has plans to make sure no one ever finds out just who is in control.

Magic, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. One! Anthony Hopkins is fantastic as the deranged Corky Withers who is struggling to remain his fragile grip on his sanity. Hmm … that may be it. Which is a slight problem and one that was at times incredibly frustrating to watch.

The biggest problem with Magic is it is simply far too long. At over an hour and forty five minutes in length it is a some what short film by today’s bloated running times, but it isn’t the length of the film as it is the amount of time wasting that happens for the entire first act. While the opening scene is fantastic, in which Corky tells his mentor Merlin (E.J. André) that he has wildly succeeded during his first solo appearance as a magician while what truly happened is juxtaposed alongside Corky’s narrative.

But from there the film stagnates as it attempts to show how Corky responds to his initial setback, and then quickly fast forwards to his burgeoning success. This jerky plot delivery fails in immersing the viewer in the story and confuses them instead. It doesn’t help matters any when Corky takes off for the Catskills to find his childhood crush Peggy (Ann-Margret), a twist that is scarcely explained and left for the viewer to figure out on their own. But even this doesn’t occur until a half hour into the film, and comes so far out of left field that you can only assume that the film is setup as its own sort of magic trick, that the first half is meant to be misdirection for the final act, only the setup for the film is simply so awkward that rather then enhance the experience and thrill the audience, it merely frustrates them instead.

If only the misguided storytelling was the only flaw. The chemistry between Hopkins and Margret is painfully awkward, culminating is a truly necrotic love scene that is almost laughably bad as they press their faces together and shake their heads in a manner that defies belief, it might as well have been two male fish battling for supremacy then two long lost lovers finally feeding their secret passions. To be fair to Margret, she’s awful in almost every scene she appears. Flush with dialogue befitting the 50′s and frolicking around as if she’s off to see the Wizard of Oz, she gives a performance that dares one to ask just what Corky sees in her besides her mammary glands? That isn’t to say Corky is a heck of a catch either, as he demonstrates during a scene where he attempts to read Peggy’s mind. Clearly unhinged, and looking more then slightly like Steve Buscemi, Corky and his magic tricks (Ed note: Illusions, Dad!) and his foul mouthed dummy Fats teamed with Peggy make for an incredibly unrealistic threesome that could only exist in the movies.

But thankfully there are some saving graces to Magic besides Hopkins outstanding performance. Outside of Margret all the actors do a good job and are well cast, especially Meredith and Ed Lauter as Peggy’s husband Duke. And once the film gets passed the poor story telling and the slimy fish sex and gets down to Corky losing control Magic really becomes a treat to watch, with the final 20 minutes culminating in an outstanding ending to an otherwise mediocre film. Magic has it flaws to be sure, but it is smart enough to place them in the middle of the film where they are the easiest to dismiss. With that great opening and a whopper of an ending, Magic just might be able to pull the wool over your eyes, and that isn’t a bad thing.

The Love Witch has received critical acclaim for its visual style and performances. Samantha Robinson, who plays the titular character, delivers a captivating performance that has been praised for its blend of vulnerability and strength. The supporting cast also delivers strong performances, further enhancing the film's storytelling. Overall, The Love Witch is a visually stunning film that offers a unique and thought-provoking take on the horror genre. Its combination of retro aesthetics and modern storytelling make it a captivating watch for those interested in both style and substance..

Reviews for "The Bold Art Direction in 'The Love Witch' on Netflix"

- Sarah - 2/5 stars - I did not enjoy "The Love Witch" on Netflix. I found it to be slow-paced and boring. The storyline was confusing and lacked depth. The acting was subpar, and I was not invested in any of the characters. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and would not recommend it.

- John - 1/5 stars - "The Love Witch" on Netflix was a total waste of time. The plot was ridiculous and made no sense. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, and the acting was terrible. The visuals were the only decent aspect of the film, but they weren't enough to save it. I was expecting more from this movie, but it fell flat in every way. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.

- Emily - 2/5 stars - I didn't understand the hype around "The Love Witch" on Netflix. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was lacking. The film dragged on and felt repetitive. The main character was unlikable and the plot twists were predictable. I found myself checking the time throughout, waiting for it to end. Overall, not a movie I would recommend to others.

- David - 2/5 stars - "The Love Witch" on Netflix was not my cup of tea. I found it to be pretentious and overindulgent in its attempt to be a homage to 60s horror films. The pacing was off, and the plot felt disjointed. The visuals were striking, but that was not enough to make up for the lackluster story. I appreciate the effort put into this film, but it simply did not resonate with me.

Capturing the Spirit of the 1960s in 'The Love Witch' on Netflix