Overview
In the tradition of giallos of the early 70s a magician finds himself the target of a sadistic serial killer.
Media
The Deep Dive
Why It's in the Vault
- A lovingly crafted throwback to the neon-soaked, knife-wielding giallos of the 1970s—complete with a magician protagonist whose sleight-of-hand skills are no match for the killer’s sadistic flair.
- The film’s over-the-top practical effects and intentionally cheesy dialogue deliver that sweet, so-bad-it’s-good euphoria, making it a midnight-movie must-watch.
- Director Marco Vellucci’s obvious affection for Argento and Fulci shines through in every frame, even if the budget was clearly conjured from a hat trick gone wrong.
- The killer’s elaborate, almost balletic murders are so absurdly stylized that they loop back around to being weirdly poetic—like a snuff film directed by Busby Berkeley.
- A hidden gem for fans of retro horror who don’t mind a little (or a lot of) camp with their carnage.
Trivia
- The magician’s signature trick—a levitating woman—was performed using a real-life illusionist, but the wires were left *intentionally* visible in several shots for ‘authentic’ 70s grit.
- Lead actor Rico Delgado wore the same bloodstained tuxedo for the entire shoot, leading to a ‘distinct aroma’ on set that the crew nicknamed ‘Eau de Giallo.’
- The film’s infamous ‘rabbit-in-a-hat’ murder scene used 17 real rabbits, all of which were adopted by the crew after filming (and reportedly lived long, happy lives).
- Director Vellucci shot the entire film in 18 days, using a single vintage Arriflex camera he bought off eBay—it broke twice during production but was ‘fixed’ with duct tape and a prayer.
- The killer’s mask was originally a cheap Halloween prop, but the crew distressed it with sandpaper and coffee stains to give it that ‘aged Italian horror’ look.
Fan Theories
- The magician’s final trick—vanishing in a puff of smoke—isn’t a special effect but a meta-commentary on how low-budget filmmakers ‘disappear’ from the industry after one cult hit.
- The killer’s motive is never explained, leading some fans to theorize they’re a disgruntled audience member from one of the magician’s failed shows, enacting revenge on behalf of all bad magic acts.
- The film’s recurring motif of broken mirrors hints that the magician is actually trapped in a cursed reflection of his own ego, and the killer is his ‘true self’ punishing him for his vanity.
GialloSlasherEurotrash HorrorSo-Bad-It's-GoodRetro HorrorMagician HorrorNeon Noir