A timid performer achieves recognition as a ventriloquist using his puppet “Fats,” but takes time off to visit his hometown within the Catskills where he hopes to reconnect with an old acquaintance. While his representative attempts to locate him, there’s a possibility that her spouse could appear; Burgess Meredith and Ed Lauter portray these characters. “Magic” (1978) unfolds deliberately as a psychological drama/thriller reminiscent of Hitchcock films, drawing elements from "Psycho" and the unsettling atmosphere found in several 1970s productions such as “Kolchak: The Night Stalker’s 'The Trevi Collection,'” influencing even something like the later film "Pin." It's fundamentally a subdued story set in a remote cabin setting, distinguished by its unusual focus on a dummy. Although it doesn’t reach the heights of films like “Psycho” or “Carrie,” it shares a similar approach with understated horror elements. I appreciate a movie that demonstrates assurance in its pacing and avoids excessive thrills; this contributes to a sense of realism. Furthermore, the tranquil rural settings are effective, and observing Hopkins at a younger stage in his career is noteworthy. He was 40 years old during filming, while Ann-Margret was just under 37. The movie’s length is 1 hour, 47 minutes, and it was filmed at Blue Lakes in Northern California—standing in for the Catskills—approximately two hours north of San Francisco/Oakland. Additional scenes were completed near Ukiah (Corky's childhood home), Twentieth Century-Fox Studios in Los Angeles, and Manhattan. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB