This could be one of those movies that means more to me than anyone else as it was released back in 1978 and a movie that I missed completely until about 5 or 6 years ago when I stumbled on it late one night. Probably on Film4 this was what I initially thought was a comedy but in fact was very different. The movie has four main characters played by Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith, and Ed Lauter. Directed by Richard Attenborough and produced by Joseph E, and Richard P. Levine with the screenplay written by William Goldman who also wrote the book. Made on a budget of $7m it went on to recoup $23.8m from the box office. What really helps creep this movie out (and with so many others also) is the music score created by legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith. Critical scoreboard continues to remain untroubled by the top 100 as this one see’s a bit of a divide with IMDb giving it a 6.8 out of 10 and Rotten Tomatoes giving a 83%, which is much closer to my score. I will try to get to the plot now, but this story leads into two potential options that is played out to the audience.
Charles Withers (or Corky) fails miserably at his first attempt at magic on stage, his dying mentor waits for his return to hear how he got on. He lies saying he did really well, but his mentor suggests that his show needs a gimmick. Over a year later and Corky is back on the stage with a ventriloquist dummy who is foul mouthed and abusive with the lovely name of Fats. Corky now has an agent called Ben Greene who is fighting to get him signed into the big leagues. The act is loved by all as ‘Fats’ is performing magic and tricking the audience and Corky is surprising them also with the misdirects going on. The big time is knocking on the door. Part of signing the big dollar contract Corky must complete medicals and he refuses. Ben thinks he is scared of success in truth Corky is scared of what mental issues might show up in the examinations. Corky runs to middle of nowhere where he grew up and catches up with his high school crush Peggy who is stuck in a loveless marriage with Duke who was Corky’s friend at High School. Alone in a cabin Corky starts to have arguments with Fats (yes the dummy). Corky takes advantage of Duke’s absence and woo Peggy into bed with a card trick that proves they are soul mates. Meanwhile Ben has tracked him down and visits to talk him around but is concerned about Corky’s mentality seeing Fats as his alto-ego that Corky cannot control. After seeing what he believed to be enough evidence to call doctors in to support Corky. Ben leaves to return to his car through the woods but is struct down by Fats hard head before he gets there. Corky now has the challenge of removing Ben’s body and covering all tracks that could possibly lead anyone back to him.
As mentioned this was a surprise to me as I knew nothing of this movie before it had already began. It was a real twister of a movie and genuinely spooky. The shot of Fats staring out of the window in shadowy night is so simple yet spooky as hell. With so many films after this one has dolls and inanimate objects becoming possessed and killing people, I like many others have this built in with movies, so you spend this one waiting for Fats to get up and run out the room. I am not going to say that he does this or not - go watch it to find out. For me this is a chilling spooky and atmospheric movie that just by slowly moving the camera and focus onto an unmoving dummy sat in a corner can be scary as hell. It was enough to win me over. Horror fans of violence gore and scary monsters may moan that little happens in this movie whilst I have heard other critics have moaned about Anthony Hopkins being more wooden than the dummy in this but I would defend him by saying he is playing a person with questionable mental health flitting from one personality to another and back. He also plays Fats doesn’t he. Would I recommend this movie? I’ve said it before but of course with all movies near the top of this list, I say yes but then add some caveats. This movie has little caveats it is spooky and it is violent which you should be aware of it asks questions of the audience as it continues but gives the answer at the end so you have the entertainment of saying yeah I was right or nope got this one wrong.
Next up will be another Christmas movie that could be seen as a modern classic or a stolen movie, but for me I obviously like it and it is in my top 100 (for a reason)…
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