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.

Schizo (1976)

I have been spending quite a bit of time living in some type of post-apocalyptic world. Whether that was influenced by Jericho, or possibly the abrupt change in the weather, I have no idea why I have been trapped in that arena. Of course, that did change last night as I decided to venture back to my youth and the 1976 mystery / thriller / giallo Schizo.

Plot/ Samantha and Alan are getting married, but William Haskins isn't pleased. He grabs a train south to London and begins shadowing Samantha as she tries to get on with married life. Haskins' attempts to frighten her drive Samantha to desperation, but she's having trouble convincing anyone that she's being stalked. Even her psychiatrist dismisses her concerns as part of her neurosis. As bodies begin turning up, Samantha's story becomes more believable, and her dark secret from the past begins to reveal itself.

When I think of 1970s horror, I usually think exploitation or giallo, as both were responsible for some awesome entries from the decade. This one fits somewhere in the middle. Yes, it has some interesting stuff going on with solid performances, some gruesome kills, and some of the trademark elements from the giallo scene. Unfortunately, there are some pacing issues, the storyline is uneven, and it is actually somewhat predictable. In the end, there was some potential to be better, but it is still an entertaining journey into the world of the 1970s giallo influenced thriller. Is it for everyone? No, but that whole movement in film leaves quite a few behind. If you like giallo, check this one out.