“Corky,” portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, initially struggled as a solo act, but has since achieved considerable recognition as a ventriloquist with his puppet "Fats." However, this acclaim hasn't come without complications; it’s frequently difficult to discern who is truly controlling whom. Hoping for some respite from the constant attention and against the wishes of his opportunistic agent “Greene” (Burgess Meredith), he decides to retreat to a secluded location. This place turns out to be where his former sweetheart, "Peggy" (Ann-Margret), resides with her husband, "Duke" (Ed Lauter). The atmosphere is already strained, but escalates further when his agent locates him and events spiral into violence. It's at this point that the previously apprehensive “Corky” begins to unravel as his inanimate counterpart starts to object to his connection with “Peggy,” exerting a more damaging effect on this vulnerable individual. I believe Hopkins delivers what might be his finest performance, and paired with Richard Attenborough’s taut direction, it creates an unsettling cinematic experience. It's almost possible to notice the movement of his Adam’s Apple when the dummy appears to be speaking, and certain lines are strikingly poignant. While the conclusion didn’t entirely satisfy me, I wonder how William Goldman could have realistically concluded this story about a destructive partnership. The film shares similarities with “Jekyll and Hyde,” except that the monster is concealed in an ordinary form.

Source on TMDB