Magic Magic (2013)

As Thanksgiving winds down, I wanted to watch something outside my normal pattern. While last night’s I Am ZoZo was a disappointment, I was convinced that my next selection had to be better. After some debate, I decided upon the 2013 indie thriller Magic Magic.

Plot/ Alicia is stuck on a remote island off Chile with three of Sarah's friends, including Brink, an American exchange student with a sadistic streak. Bewildered, frightened, and unable to sleep, Alicia's reality becomes a nightmare from which there is no waking. Ancient indigenous rites, disturbing animal behavior, and captivating hypnotic trances come together in an intense exploration into the darkest corners... when the games go too far, reality unravels with astonishing and deadly consequences.

This is a strange movie. Definitely more of a psychological drama than thriller, there is a complex storyline here that is more detailed than some would like. In fact, the dark undertone and tremendous performances from some of the characters make it even more interesting. Yes, some will be misled by the synopsis, which attempt to push it toward the horror or thriller categories, but it is not that at all. The cinematography is solid, Juno Temple is amazing and the atmosphere is solid. Yes, the end leaves a bit to be desired and may add an overwhelming sense of confusion, there is little to no character development and the characters themselves may have been too detached. In the end, I found this an atmospheric and entertaining flick, but I am sure many will disagree. This one is definitely not for everyone, but if you are in for a complex and dark drama, give it a shot.