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The Effect:
The old Al Baker effect, The Haunted Deck.
Spectator selects a card, card is lost in deck, deck cuts it'self and reveals the chosen card.. But wait there's more to this.
Card can be signed - free choice
Deck moves by it'self - totally hands off.
Deck can be placed in plastic ziplock bag or under glass bowl and will cut it'self
Deck can be examined.


Cost £27.99 at World Magicstore.com
(They have exclusive rights in the UK at the moment apparently)



Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

I'm going to put the difficulty at 1.5 just to be different. Easy to do, some management.

Review
Sometimes somebody totally rethinks a new approach to something we have all been doing (or aware of for years). Well here I think Peter has done this and done it well.
I have always liked the idea of the haunted deck it was one of the first effects I bought but never used (That would be the version most magic shops sell for about a fiver, with a safety pin, do you remember?). Well here is a version that lives up to it's hype. Yes you are completely away from the deck when the magic happens; and when it does it looks awesome. The clean up is good as well. The deck is totally examinable afterwards. What Peter has done is brought together a couple of elements that are not totally new but used them in a way together that I really think is not just a new approach to the haunted deck but what I think is the best to date. With the pack is also a DVD which has Peter explaining the setup and workings and also includes some really good suggestions for different ways of performing,( I did like the idea from Titanas). As far as I could see the DVD covers all the bases and is as a magic DVD should be, clear, lots of different ideas and details on ensuring a lifetime of performing this effect.
I have only just got this so haven't performed it yet but I am already prepping my deck in anticipation and can't wait to try this out.
Well done Peter - this is fantastic.



Overall: 10 (I can see no downsides to this).

Thanks for the review - I just know I'm gonna buy this now

moonbeam wrote: I just know I'm gonna buy this now

..... and true to my word - the deed is done

I'll add my two-penneth when it arrives

I'm quite pleased with this!!

After much playing it will do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbQGhCV0Mo

Its magic wrote:I'm quite pleased with this!!

After much playing it will do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbQGhCV0Mo" target="_blank

Well, if I hadn't already ordered it - you would have just forced me into it. I can't wait for this to arrive

Hey Moonbeam

I look forward to getting a second opinion from you once you get your copy through.

I bought mine afterseeing it done in World Magic Shop. Havent prepared mine yet as I m waiting for a new deck of cards to arrive. The current Bicycle packs are not as suited as the older style pack although this is not prohibitive from performing it. I m just being picky!!
But it is an awesome effect!!

Does anyone know how this compares to Chill by Tom Wright?

R

People who like this may also want to check out static. By David jade.

Robmonster wrote:Does anyone know how this compares to Chill by Tom Wright?

R

Same effect as Haunted the way I do it but different methods, the normal Haunted handling just makes the pack cut, with chill the card comes out like in my video.

Chill is the one I work with at the moment its good and reliable, but as with my adaptation of haunted I've changed Chill to make it more workable.

I seem to have this ability to take a marketed trick that's been released and make it work in the real world!!

With Chill you have to be careful with lighting or some clothing colours, I can see me using Haunted in such situations, or even impromptu as long as its a poker size deck.

Both haunted and Chill are worth buying but you have to work at them both to make them practical.

Hello Everyone

Following my handling of Haunted I posted a day or two ago I'm pleased to announce that all purchasers of Haunted will shortly have access to the details of my handling to make the card come from the pack using the standard Haunted gimmick provided.

The handling will also include a few tips I have found to make the performance easier and more reliable.

I can't thank Peter enough for coming up with the original handling which enabled me to take it that one step further.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbQGhCV0Mo" target="_blank

Click the above to see my handling showing it push the card out 5 times in a row.

The 75% working I mention has now improved now I actually understand it.

Its magic wrote:Hello Everyone

Following my handling of Haunted I posted a day or two ago I'm pleased to announce that all purchasers of Haunted will shortly have access to the details of my handling to make the card come from the pack using the standard Haunted gimmick provided.

The handling will also include a few tips I have found to make the performance easier and more reliable.

I can't thank Peter enough for coming up with the original handling which enabled me to take it that one step further.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbQGhCV0Mo" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Click the above to see my handling showing it push the card out 5 times in a row.

The 75% working I mention has now improved now I actually understand it.

Please keep us update on your handling, Mark - I've been drooling over your vid for some days now


Cheers!

Rob


EDITED TO ADD: I'm working to locate a UK supplier of refill 'stuff' for Haunted (Peter E has supplied details of a US supplier, but the shipping price is prohibitive); I should be able to confirm a UK supplier within a day or two!

Okay, here's my two-penneth:

I agree with the OP - this is GREAT. The DVD is very clear and explains everything you need to know in fine detail.

The blurb is a bit misleading though, as the spec cannot insert the card into the deck (if you disagree - feel free to say so, but it would be very tricky to achieve the necessary "positioning" of the card). The spec can cut the cards if you carry out the correct handling, although I, personally, don't see the point .

The initial one-off set-up is a bit tricky at first. You are supplied with 2 gimmicks, which need preparing beforehand - after that you just need to "maintain" them. The DVD is, however, very concise and easy to follow . Unfortunately, both of the gimmicks supplied are red-backed ..... a bit of a bummer for me, 'cos I only use blue backed cards . Anyway, it explains, in full detail, how to make a new gimmick and you are supplied with an ample supply of "stuff". It took me 3 attempts to make mine, 'cos I "broke the stuff" twice, so I'm wondering if the following refers to the stuff that I broke, or the stuff needed to maintain the gimmick, 'cos by the time I make up another gimmick or 2, I'm gonna need some more "stuff":

magicrob wrote:EDITED TO ADD: I'm working to locate a UK supplier of refill 'stuff' for Haunted (Peter E has supplied details of a US supplier, but the shipping price is prohibitive); I should be able to confirm a UK supplier within a day or two!

With the initial set-up - be careful with the "stuff" (the "stuff" that you use to maintain the gimmick and not the "stuff" that I broke) - 'cos I initially used too much. This will prob be easier for some people. I had a few problems initially, 'cos I don't use any of the 2 lots of "stuff" mentioned, so I'm not used to handling them.

I personally don't see the need for all the extra effort needed in ditching the gimmick. The gimmick is almost undetectable. I showed this to my missus and she watches every move I make. She makes a very good guinea pig, if I can fool her .... I can fool anyone (well, nearly ). On one occasion, she grabbed the cards and turned them over, expecting to find something. She stared at the gimmick for a few seconds (she never spotted it ) before handing me the cards back, swearing under her breath .
In order to be able to ditch the gimmick, you have to prep the gimmick even more - which makes it more detectable (I hope that makes sense). I have already adapted the routine to fit my own style, where the gimmick can just be left in the deck. The deck can be casually inspected if the spec wishes to do so - the gimmick is almost invisible.

I love this and can't wait to get out there and start using it. I'm gonna need to practice it a bit first though - it's not one of those tricks where you open it up and you're ready to go. It's a knack of getting the "feel" of it - if you get it wrong, the deck will either not cut itself, or it'll cut itself too quickly. To get the effect right - you need the deck to cut itself after 5-10 seconds ish.

Roll on the weekend so I can get out there and use it .

Moonbeam - my stuff and your stuff is the same stuff.

Once I've checked that my new, replacement stuff is the same as the supplied stuff, I'll let you know where you can get your own new stuff.

S'tuff being so cagey

I just looked on Amazon, you can get 70m of "stuff" for £3 including postage!

One tip I'll be mentioning on the supplement that's coming out which will be free to all purchasers by the way is to apply just once first, add more if required.

It's easier to do this than mess trying to make it less.

Peter has apologised for the error in stating on the box that the spectator can put the card into the deck, the new stock does not state they can. The online add also states you put the card in so it is only the box that's wrong, some may have seen this claim when artwork was show before the release, but your right you put the card in.

This really is good so put the time into getting it right.