Movies
‘Magic’ – Sam Raimi Producing Remake of 1970s Killer Doll Cult Classic
The 1970s cult classic Magic starring Anthony Hopkins is getting a remake, with Bloody Disgusting learning this afternoon that Sam Raimi will produce alongside Roy Lee.
The “newly imagined” take on the 1978 killer doll movie comes courtesy of Lionsgate, with Chris Hammond and Tim Sullivan also on board to produce the upcoming movie.
The project will be written by Mark Swift & Damian Shannon (Freddy vs. Jason, Send Help).
The original Magic starred Anthony Hopkins as Corky, a magician who reaches fame alongside his ventriloquist’s dummy, the obnoxious and wisecracking Fats—whom Corky cannot control.
Also starring Ann-Margret and Burgess Meredith, directed by Richard Attenborough, and written by William Goldman, based on his novel, the movie made waves even before its release with its terrifying TV ads, which declared, “Magic is fun—we’re dead.”
Meredith Wieck and Pavan Kalidindi are overseeing the project for Lionsgate.
Meagan Navarro wrote here on Bloody Disgusting back in 2023, “Magic is an underappreciated classic and one of horror’s most unnerving love stories.” Her 45th anniversary piece continued, “Magic wasn’t the first time that a ventriloquist was terrorized by his own dummy, but its emphasis on the psychological, Hopkins’ intense performance, and Attenborough opting for straightforward tension without a hint of camp elevated the film into something that holds up well. Moreover, Magic served as direct inspiration for Don Mancini’s original screenplay for Child’s Play, fittingly released almost a decade apart to the day. The story of Corky and Fats may not be as well known, but the influence of Magic is still strong to this day.”
Watch the original 1978 trailer for Magic below and stay tuned.
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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