by IAIN » Jun 2nd, '09, 18:20
Where from: alakazam.co.uk
price: £25
difficulty: 1-5, the basics and the handling are a simple 1
if you're looking to do XCM or lots of passes, you are either over complicating things, or looking to buy it for the wrong reasons...
What do you get?
A collection of 26 different cards (blank on one side and a poster of a well known horror film on the other side).
Four alternative horror films that can be used either in place of four of the main 26 cards or in addition to them.
Four non-horror films which can be used with a number of effects, or can just act as alternatives in either the Horror set or the original set of “Director’s Cut” cards.
A duplicate of the “Dracula” card.
A double blank card.
This manuscript, which not only outlines several ideas that can be used with the cards, but also offers a short synopsis of each film giving you some background information that can be used with the effects, in case you haven’t seen the film in question.
A DVD. On the DVD is the manuscript that was issued with the original “Directors Cut”, the booklet you are now reading and several templates that can be used to make props for some of the described effects. Oh and some performances too.
What i say
Simon was one of the first people i got to know on here. Him, Tomo and Dr. Todd...i kinda landed on my feet magic wise, knowing these three little tinkers - they've all been very helpful and encouraging.
Everyone say aaaawwww...
i think of them as the 3 bears, and myself as goldilocks...if you know me, you can dig the irony of that statement. And if you don't let's move right along.
Director's Cut. The title says it all. Though, if you have been drinking, you have to be a little careful in case you trip your tongue and say a rude word. Teehee 'director'...
Right so, this time around, you have horror movies...so what? i hear you ask. Well, i think horror films cover the strongest of emotions, not just the fear, but also relief, occassional black humour, and a few other emotive states too. I think a horror film stays with you that much longer than any other kind. You may be able to choke up quotes from a lot of comedies for the same reason; i just feel there's a bigger range of things to take advantage of during a performance..and its only horror that lets you do that.
Thankfully, the film titles chosen (which i wont list) are classics for the main, with some evocative ones thrown in - you may or may not like Childs Play for example, but the actual imagery is scarey, even if the film wasnt.
The setup is explained very clearly - as is peeking and mixing.
I have read people criticise these cards cos they are NOT poker sized. I say to those people - BAH! and indeed, MEH! This is yer actual mentalism, not card tricks...please step away from the sleights and concentrate on the performance...
The pdf goes into that much more detail than the dvd ever really could - so that was also a good move to include it. Watch the dvd - get the idea of whats involved. Then relax with a warm cup of bat-chewed coffee and read through the 68 page pdf at your leisure.
The effects cover predictions, intuition, influence, body language and multi-phased mind reading...the key thing is that you will almost certainly want to then create your own additions using other visual elements too...
If you're working parlour - have a real clapper board as the reveal...if you're up close, maybe take some shots off your tv of certain films...
i should point out you get ten effects overall in the pdf - 5 are shown in the dvd. As well as a performance by Pete Nardi/Ray Winston in america.
Overall, this is a very versatile and unique effect, that'll give you ample food for thought for your own effects, as well as performing the lovely ones created here for you.
There's also opportunity to add more items with it - books on horror, a lead in to the dracula book test - a hoy book test, clapper board predictions, photos, all kinds of things...
FIN
9/10