Vanished Witch Walking In the realm of fantasy and folklore, the concept of a vanished witch walking is often associated with mystical powers and dark magic. It conjures up images of a powerful sorceress, able to disappear and move silently through the world undetected. This notion has captivated the minds of both storytellers and audiences for centuries. The idea of a vanished witch walking has its roots in various legends and myths. In some tales, witches are said to possess the ability to become invisible at will, allowing them to move about unnoticed. This power is often tied to their connection with the spirit world and their mastery of magic.
Corky heads to the Catskills, where he soon encounters his old high school crush Peggy (Ann-Margret) and her grouchy husband Duke (Ed Lauter). Meanwhile, Corky's agent, Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith), has pursued him and quickly becomes suspicious regarding his mental well-being. Before long, the situation begins to turn violent.
Failed stage magician Corky Withers Anthony Hopkins manages to rejuvenate his career with the addition of ventriloquism to his act; unfortunately, he also begins to manifest a split personality via his dummy, Fats, and just as he s about to hit it big with a television deal, chooses to flee rather than submit to the required medical exam. My sympathy for Corky started to wear off by the middle of the second act, when he seduces his married high school sweetheart, and tries to convince her to leave her husband and run away with him.
This power is often tied to their connection with the spirit world and their mastery of magic. It is believed that through their knowledge of ancient spells and rituals, witches can tap into the energies of the universe and cloak themselves in invisibility. In other stories, the vanished witch walking is more than just a mere trick of invisibility.
Magic (1978)
A ventriloquist’s peculiar relationship with his dummy begins to affect his personal life.
My Thoughts:
In between his epics “A Bridge Too Far” and “Gandhi”, Richard Attenborough made this grounded little horror flick. “Magic” revolves around a ventriloquist Corky (Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”) and his dummy Fats. I feel like ventriloquist dolls/killer dolls are their own subgenre of horror flicks at this point, and while I’m a fan of Chucky’s “Child’s Play” movies (admittedly they aren’t all that good, but I still like them), I honestly don’t think killer doll movies are all that scary. The best ones, the most entertaining ones, are the slightly tongue-in-cheek films, the movies that acknowledge the ridiculousness of the plot. When you take a ridiculous premise like a living doll and try to make it realistic, you end up with movies like “Dead Silence”, which is a schmaltzy film filled with stupid and cheap jump scares. “Magic” is sort of on the fringe of the living dolls subgenre because we’re never really sure if Fats is actually alive or if Corky is just a crazy kook.
In a lot of ways this movie works: it’s far classier than most killer doll movies, that’s for sure. The directing in a few scenes is quite remarkable, the writing is pretty good, and Anthony Hopkins delivers a very solid a memorable performance. The problem is that this movie is just so serious, and it tries to be more of a slow-burn psychological thriller than anything else, and it never really won me over with it’s pacing and atmosphere. It’s just too slow and not at all scary for the first two thirds of the film, and then by the time something scary actually does happen, I was growing weary of waiting for something to happen.
The best parts of this film come at the beginning and the end; the middle part is a bit of a slog. The opening scene is a great introduction to both Corky and Fat’s characters. When we first meet Corky, he’s trying to be a magician on stage and failing horribly at it, the film then immediately flashes forward a year, and we see Corky performing a similar act, but this time he’s doing much better. The viewer is left to wonder how Corky has suddenly become so good at what he does, and it’s a rather intriguing way to start the film. The end of the film is, of course, where the bloodshed starts, so I wont go into too many details.
I had a hard time deciding whether to give this film 2.5/5 or a 3/5 simply because I think Attenborough’s directing is incredibly competent. Though I’ve complained about the middle portion of this movie being slow and slightly boring, there were a few scenes where Fats and Corky talk to one another, and those scenes are directed in a way that makes it so we’re not sure if Fats is actually alive or not; that veiled mystery sort of helps the film’s premise overall, but it doesn’t necessarily make the movie move faster or add a ton to the atmosphere. Anthony Hopkins was great in this film. He plays Corky with just the right amount of social awkwardness so that he’s simultaneously off-putting and sympathetic, for a while. My sympathy for Corky started to wear off by the middle of the second act, when he seduces his married high school sweetheart, and tries to convince her to leave her husband and run away with him. I think that was when I really started to loose interest in Corky’s character and doubt the plotting; are we supposed to believe a successful woman is going to run away from her established life to marry a guy that does magic tricks and makes dolls talk for a living? That’s a little silly.
Verdict:
In the end, I decided I’d give this film a 2.5/5 because it honestly just feels dated and slow and not at all scary. It’s competently acted, directed, and written, its just sort of boring at times, and that’s not what I want when I’m looking for a horror flick. Chucky still reigns king of the killer dolls in this critic’s humble opinion.
A ventriloquist’s peculiar relationship with his dummy begins to affect his personal life.
It encompasses a broader range of abilities, such as shape-shifting and teleportation. These witches are said to be able to adopt different forms and change their appearance at will, making it nearly impossible to track them down or even recognize them. They can conceal their true identity and move freely among both humans and supernatural beings, which adds an element of mystery and intrigue to their character. The vanished witch walking is often portrayed as a powerful and enigmatic figure, capable of great feats of magic and mischief. They are often depicted as morally ambiguous, using their powers for both good and evil depending on their motivations. They can be allies, helping those in need and fighting against injustice, or they can be adversaries, causing havoc and chaos wherever they go. This duality adds depth to their character and contributes to the intrigue surrounding their vanished walking abilities. Despite the fertile ground for imagination that the concept of a vanished witch walking provides, it remains firmly entrenched in the realm of myth and fantasy. In reality, the ability to become invisible or vanish into thin air is the stuff of dreams and legends. Nevertheless, the allure of these mystical powers continues to captivate our imagination and keep the vanished witch walking alive in our collective consciousness..
Reviews for "The Vanishing Witch: A Modern-Day Enigma"
1. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I found "Vanished Witch Walking" to be incredibly slow-paced and lacking in suspense. The plot was convoluted and confusing, and I struggled to connect with the characters. The writing style was also quite dry, and I often found myself losing interest. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. John - 1 out of 5 stars - "Vanished Witch Walking" was a complete bore for me. I felt like the story dragged on and on without any significant developments or climaxes. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to invest in their fates. Additionally, the narrative lacked a clear direction, leaving me confused and uninterested. I regret picking up this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for "Vanished Witch Walking" but was ultimately let down. The plot seemed promising, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The pacing was extremely slow, and the story lacked the gripping suspense I was expecting. The characters felt one-dimensional and poorly developed, making it hard to care about their struggles. Overall, this book fell flat for me and left me disappointed.
4. Michael - 2.5 out of 5 stars - While "Vanished Witch Walking" had an interesting premise, it failed to captivate me fully. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of mundane dialogue and slow-moving plot points. The characters were also quite forgettable and lacked the depth necessary to make me truly invested in their stories. While there were a few intriguing moments, they were not enough to salvage the overall reading experience for me.
5. Jessica - 2 out of 5 stars - I struggled to get through "Vanished Witch Walking." The narrative felt disjointed and confusing, making it hard to follow along with the story. The characters' motivations were unclear, and their actions often left me scratching my head. Additionally, the prose was dry and lacked the vivid descriptions necessary to bring the setting to life. Unfortunately, this book did not meet my expectations and I would not recommend it.