Magic Magic (2013) User Reviews

Michael Cera is an annoying prick

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 5 November 2020]

Alicia (Juno Temple) visits her cousin Sara (Emily Browning) and her boyfriend Agustín in Chile. It's her first time outside of America. They with Agustin's sister Bárbara (Catalina Sandino Moreno) and his friend Brink (Michael Cera) go on a road trip. Sara had to go back to school before they arrive at the remote vacation house.

Michael Cera is an annoying prick and it's infuriating to watch him. He almost makes this unwatchable all by himself. He's an annoying jerk and he's so whiny about it. Of course, he's written that way and I can't complain about his acting. It does make it hard to stay with the movie. It does get to an interesting place as Alicia slowly breaks down. Agustin is also a bit annoying with the sleeping pills but he's nothing compared to Brink. If one can live with the annoyance, this is an ok movie.

A Weird Movie that will Leave you Confused and Uneasy

[simon-d-cesair · 5/10 · 12 August 2013]

Long Story Short: The Story evolves around Alicia (Juno Temple) – an emotionally fragile young woman, who visits her cousin Sarah (Emily Browning) in Chile. Together with Sarah's boyfriend Agustín (Agustín Silva), Agustín's sister Barbara (Catalina Sandina Moreno), and their very strange friend Brink (Michael Cera) they travel to the countryside. But things aren't as pleasant as they are supposed to be, and especially Brink turns out to be very insensitive and doesn't show any sympathy for Alicia retentiveness. What was meant to be a relaxing vacation for Alicia soon turns into a horrifying experience.

Review: Magic Magic is often advertised as a horror movie, however, I would say it's more of a psychological thriller with a very dark and intense undertone. Juno Temple is giving a master performance, her acting is on point and very disturbing. Michael Cera plays this psycho, who shows not only anti-social but also sadistic tendencies, and everyone was wondering if he would be able to portray a character like Brink. I think he did great, but at the same time, he annoyed the living hell out of me. The camera-work is stunning, and the landscape shots are beautiful. The movie starts very strong and interesting, but leaves you clueless not only until the end, but even past that. There is absolutely no conclusion, the audience is completely left in the dark, and even though the tension and suspense rises it turns out to be a thick cloud of confusion. It seems like someone came up with a good idea but ran out of time to write a satisfying ending. So let's just end it somehow, because at the end of the day indie movies are supposed to keep you guessing and that's what makes them artistic. Not true. Furthermore, character development is hardly existing, and even if Juno Temple convinced with her performance, I couldn't relate to her character because I didn't know enough about her. Magic Magic is not a bad movie but towards the end there are just too many questions unanswered, which might be very unsatisfying.

If you like closure, don't watch this film.

[angharadcdavies · 1/10 · 19 August 2020]

I still have no idea what this film was about. And I continued watching so I could at least see the ending for the film to just end with no closure... 2 hours of my life I can't get back.

Non-Entertaining

[clovis-5 · 1/10 · 7 August 2013]

My disappointment from this film is exacerbated by the way the DVD is marketed, with the box cover plastered with a quote from a review that proclaims: "stomach-churning psychological horror . . . a great thrill ride". Perhaps that reviewer is a friend of somebody connected to this film because I found there to be no horror elements, psychological or otherwise, nor any thrills. The characters are unpleasant and annoying, and so is their dialogue. John Cera's portrayal of "Brink" was somewhat diverting for about 5 minutes, after which I found the character to be insufferable. Difficult and unpleasant topics and characters can be presented in an entertaining way, in the hands of the right director and writer. But that's not the case here -- it's just difficult and unpleasant characters and topics in a manifestly non-entertaining, non-interesting film. There's decent camera-work, there's a story somewhere, but it simply is not cinematic. There are some wonderful shots of the southern Chilean landscape, but otherwise I feel like I just lost 97 minutes of my life.

They should be sued for moviemagic malpractice.

[kylere · 1/10 · 8 August 2013]

I am not sure why this movie is described as, "Ancient indigenous rites, disturbing animal behavior, and captivating hypnotic trances come together in an intense exploration into the darkest corners... when the games go too far, reality unravels with astonishing and deadly consequences." None of this is really true. This movie is about taking a group of reasonably talented actors and handing them a script with awful dialog and a complete lack of plot. Nothing is unique, nothing is surprising, all the "reveals" are really just daily trivia.

In the end, people travel to far away camp, some of them are jerks, one of them is going to go insane, nothing really happens and you will wish you had not wasted your time.

Insanity on film

[themissingpatient · 7/10 · 9 August 2013]

Juno Temple plays Alicia, a young American woman who has traveled to South America to share some adventures with her cousin, Sarah, played by Emily Browning. Sarah introduces Alicia to her boyfriend, Agustín, who is currently studying hypnotism, his sister, Barbara, and their mutual American friend, Brink, played by Michael Cera. Together the five of them begin to head for a remote island off the coast of Chile when Sarah is called to return to the city. Alicia then finds herself alone with her cousin's four friends, who speak more Spanish than English, in an unfamiliar land. As culture shock sets in, insomnia and paranoia take control as Brink desperately tries to seduce the emotionally unstable Alicia.

The chaos captured in the film is enough to induce a panic attack in some unsuspecting audience members. This is far from a fun film to watch, do not be fooled by Michael Cera's name. Cera does play the perfect creep though and is a surprisingly good antagonist, even if only in Alicia's perspective. Those looking for Michael Cera comedy in a horror flick are going to hate this. This is an indie psychological drama that will win over film festivals but the majority will despise it for being so obscure and frustrating to watch. No matter how good the film does get, the ending will leave you feeling a little cheated. But perhaps that is the point.

Magic Magic is a well-crafted nightmare in the shell of a story that could have been a romantic comedy adventure. There is so much that could be said to be wrong with the film and yet all the wrongs helped portray a mental breakdown better. It's a heart-breaking story that most people are never going to want to witness again, even if they liked the film.

Weird and Boring

[claudio_carvalho · 2/10 · 9 August 2013]

The American Alicia (Juno Temple) travels to Chile to meet her cousin Sarah (Emily Browning) and they immediately travel to a remote island with Sarah's boyfriend Agustin (Agustin Silva), his sister Barbara (Catalina Sandino Moreno) and their friend Brink (Michael Cera). Out of the blue, Sarah returns to the city and Alicia is left alone with the trio of Chileans that speak most of the time in Spanish. Soon the unstable Alicia is unable to sleep and becomes paranoid; she uses lots of pills and gets in a journey with no return.

"Magic Magic" is a weird and boring movie about a tale of paranoia. There is no story; therefore the screenplay is only a development of the storyline (unstable young woman travels to Chile and becomes paranoid with tragic consequences). The result is a hateful movie with non- charismatic characters, no story, no nothing but waste of time. My vote is two.

Title (Brazil): "Viagem Sem Volta" ("Journey with no Return")

Completely misunderstood masterpiece.

[eternitycomplex · 9/10 · 23 August 2013]

Perhaps this movie only works if you've known someone with the kind of debilitating paranoia that Alicia (Juno Temple) suffers from. I don't know. All I can say is that I was glued to it from start to finish and I honestly feel that it was masterfully crafted and offers so much more than most people are giving it credit for.

I understand the backlash... it really is NOT a horror movie. But its not a showcase of intangible visual art-house dream-sequence garbage either, which is what I think people might imagine it to be when they read the synopsis. For me, it was never even the slightest bit boring.

If you want to see how mundane situations can be brilliantly transformed into nightmarish experiences for one character, while other characters awkwardly try to deal with it (and often provoke it), eventually watching this dynamic grow to high levels of darkness and intensity, well then this is the movie for you!

I wish more people could look a little deeper and appreciate the many layers and eccentricities of this movie! Like another reviewer mentioned, many of the scenes could be perceived as flat out hilarious. That is, if you can allow yourself to be simultaneously mortified and amused. This movie has the ability to provoke a wide array of CONTRASTING emotions. I've never seen anything quite like it.

It's not a movie for everyone. But if you read this review and still want to watch it, you'll probably think its pretty neat.

Cera and Temple are great in this and the movie really makes you feel uncomfortable the whole time, which helps it. I say B+

[cosmo_tiger · 7/10 · 31 July 2013]

"She's not a bad person, I know her, she just needs a doctor for her hand." Alicia (Temple) is a young woman travels to Chile to visit her cousin and her friends. While there the friends begin to make her feel uncomfortable and she wants nothing more then to leave. What starts off as a fun vacation for her soon starts to unravel and becomes something out of a nightmare, for everyone. I will admit that I was kind of looking forward to this mainly for the fact that it looked like Michael Cera was playing a creepy bad guy. Without ruining anything he's not a bad guy but this is a very different part for him. I have to say that Juno Temple was great in this and should get some type of award. As far as the movie, from the opening shot the movie made you feel a little uncomfortable and never really let up at all. The camera work and the acting really leaves you feeling unable to relax and because of that the movie reaches a level of creepiness I wasn't ready for. Watching Temple start to unravel is mesmerizing and when the end finally comes you are left stunned and not sure what to make of what you just saw. A movie that leaves you thinking and wondering to me is the sign of a good movie. Overall, a movie that really comes out of nowhere and makes you feel uncomfortable the whole time, which in this case is a good thing. I give it a B+.

Pointless......

[smelleecat · 14 September 2021]

As soon as they didn't do anything for those puppies, I was disgusted, and felt they should all just suffer. Despicable kids, none of the charachters had any purpose. This film had no purpose. Just plain garbage!

I want my 1.5 hour back this torture of a movie wasted.

[OmairCh · 1/10 · 28 July 2014]

One star cause I cannot get any lower than that. This movie should be in the DRAMA section of IMDb so that guys like me can avoid it. I was like a thriller with some well known names so must be good.

How wrong I was. This is a complete drama and a bad one at that. Acting is OK but has too much Spanish for my liking. Even till the end I kept thinking something on the lines of horror or thriller would happen but nope nothing. I don't know who approved of the script cause if I read that, I would have gone to sleep in the middle.

But seriously the movie ends so abruptly that when the credits started rolling I was like WHATTT!! they cannot make a movie like that and my first thought was to immediately dig a hole and bury this DVD so to save others from watching it.

Bottom line: Huge disappointment. Really avoid it. There is nothing there to watch except for a very small amount of nudity from Juno Temple but even that is not worth watching this.

Has it finished yet? Has it finished yet? wow it finished there?!?

[ownagesunny · 1/10 · 26 December 2013]

I've never left a review on a movie before in my life but after sitting through that dirge for over 1.5 hours i thought id at least try and warn others from suffering the same waste of time and brain power as i just did.

I think i have said it all really besides, if you are expecting a horror movie, this ain't for you, if you are expecting a thriller then this also ain't for you, drama maybes? nope this ain't for you, i'm not really sure what id class this movie as besides contrived self indulgence nonsense and avoid it at all costs, the last 20 minutes was worse then the 1st 70 and that really is saying something.

avoid at all costs, it really is that bad.

You don't know what it is? It's like Lars von Trier's Melancholia.

[sd-forum · 9/10 · 7 August 2014]

This movie is absolutely amazing and I don't understand all the negative reviews. Really? You didn't understand what this movie is about? Really? You were expecting a horror, fantastical movie?

Let me make it easy for you. This movie is about depression. Being at a strange place. Not feeling belonging to a place. This is like Lars von Trier's Melancholia. Except this is much better and less boring than Lars von Trier's movie.

I was planing on watching this movie in 2-3 sittings thinking it will be slow but this movie completely surprised me and I watched it from start to end. Juno Temple plays so well in this and I could completely understand her pain.

Don't waste your time

[killdavey · 1/10 · 6 October 2013]

I tried, I really tried this movie is unbearable never goes anywhere you just want to choke the out of the characters actually the writers. The acting wasn't bad its just a crappy story and whoever let this get on film should be tortured for the time that we lost I think this is the worst story ever. Don't WATCH!!!!!! If u do smoke a lot of weed or drink a ton of mushrooms maybe just put it on and have sex with your partner or whatever if u decide not to watch your DVD vcr blu-ray or whatever player will thank you My girlfriend rented this from a redbox I know want to poor gasoline on that machine because of this garbage and burn it to ashes They should erase this film from history I hope you all take my advice stay away from magic magic Id rather watch Hocus Pocus

Going over the cliff-edge

[paul2001sw-1 · 7/10 · 17 February 2017]

When a mixed group of Amreican and Chilean youths travel to a remote island in Soputh America, they soon lose their equilibrium - indeed, we're pretty much in 'Blair Witch' territory here, as panic descends in spite of the absence of any explicit external cause. Some people may inherently dislike watching a movie full of squealing teenagers, but director Sebastien Silva shows some skill here, as the innate tensions among the characters drive the increasing deterioration in their mood and well-being. In fact, I really liked the beginning; the end (in which something must, inevitably, be conjured out of nothing) feels a little more random, and insufficiently grounded in what went before.

Every bad rating is someone who didn't finish it or decided they hated it early on...

[MrOPositive · 7/10 · 14 August 2013]

I was so ready to give up on this weird, navel-gazing, unfunny, aimless awkward-off between Juno Temple and Michael Cera. Then...slowly, but surely, all these pointless awkward scenes started to mean something. They were trying to show you what the regular constant of these kids' lives in Chile was, before they introduced something strange. And just when I thought...alright, it's just another white girl losing it movie, it changes again. And it builds and it grows and it rewards you for staying with it over and over.

But I can't blame you if you hated it early on. As good as Juno Temple is and as knowingly hateable as Michael Cera's oddball character was, there's almost nothing to the first half of the movie. But it does change, and by the end I couldn't look away.

Not an amazing film, but much more than what I thought it was initially. It helped me understand how such good talent could be attracted to something like this.

But I also have to say, where it ends, might've just annoyed you all over again.

WORST movie I've ever watched & I've watched some awful movies ! ! !

[traveling-girl2 · 1/10 · 28 September 2013]

I don't even know how to begin this movie was sooooooooooo BAD.

No plot So many holes in the plot you never really know what the point of the movie is.

No character development No background at hinted problems of main character so you never know why she is acting the way she is

Speaking of acting, there was no acting (it was awful)

None of the characters are likable. You really don't care about them at all, In fact, I wanted them all to get killed.

The whole movie is pointless.

No questions answered at the end.

I cannot fathom what they were trying to accomplish in making this movie. It is a complete waste of time.

I rented this movie for $1.50 and I want my money back (I'd want my money back if I only paid $.01 to see it.

A very dark movie

[cekadah · 8/10 · 25 December 2013]

Magic Magic is being pushed as a psychological thriller and horror ..... that is doing this movie a great injustice.

From the very start we know Alicia has an emotional problem and that Sara has an ulterior motive to back out of the trip at the last minute. Just what Alicia's emotional problem is, the viewer does not know and why Sara backs out of the trip into the country side is not made clear. What is made clear is that Alicia is very depended on Sara ---- especially in this foreign country traveling with people Alicia has never met and going to a distant area of Chile.

We do not know anything about theses peoples past so the viewer must go with what is presented to them for insight into their character. For me they came across as just young indulgent unexperienced youths. When they realize Alicia has a few problems they just ignore her issues because she will have to adjust on her own. Sara says she'll be there later and the broken line of communication among the youths will be mended. That doesn't happen.

When the group realizes, too late, that Alicia has greater problems than they are capable to handle, what do they do, they give her pills because thats how modern society treats emotional problems. The problem intensifies with Alicia having taken too many pills and is easily confused .... or is she desperate to fit in with the group? We the viewer cannot tell either, we are equally confused as Alicia. When Sara finally does arrive Alicia has already crossed the line into a state of confusion but Sara cannot see it, at first. When the problem with Alicia becomes dangerous and threatening Alicia is taken to a local witch doctor who's only remedy is the use of ancient indigenous rituals which is useless to Alicia and all involved with her.

This movie is more about the clash of ancient and modern cultural norms in treating someone with obvious medical needs. Here are a group of inexperienced youths raised in a modern world but facing a threatening and dangerous situation with only old world medical practice available to them. They find themselves caught between to conflicting worlds.

Worst movie ever.....even worse than Crystal Fairy

[leon-arts · 1/10 · 23 September 2013]

I really had to register to prevent others from watching this terrible terrible movie!

It is so pointless that i have no words... I never shot films down, i let them speak through me, even if i'm bored with a particular film, i watch it till the very end, as to give it a chance, but Magic Magic really bored me to death, and it is even worse, it irritated me.

The funny part is that i saw this after Crystal Fairy, which i didn't know where made by the same director, and just 5 Min's into the movie i started to see a pattern, a really bad and pointless one! Shots that are completely pointless and extremely long, the editing is also bad, the director of photography must have been drunk...the list goes on for as long as this movie's runtime....

During all the movie you will get the urge to ask: WHY?? and i don't mean why is this detail in this scene etc, but why did this movie was ever made?? and why did this director get the founds to make not one but two terrible films in the SAME YEAR?!

Complete waste of time, and don't fall for the indie aspect of it, if you want to see an indie flick, just go with primer or special or half nelson, those are true indie films, with a story and are actually interesting.

boring drama queen

[menesred · 2/10 · 19 June 2014]

incredible boring. stupid story. Michael Austin Cera is obviously a drag queen. how can he pretend to be straight?? even my 90 years old grandma would detect him as gay as hell. i can not recommend this movie except you like very bad acting and drama Queens. don't know what to add here.the locations are OK. if this is one of the better movies from Chile i don't want to know the worst ones. wouldn't like to see more films like his one. its simply to bad to be taken serious. didn't see any horror moments in this movie. boring talking from the beginning to the very end. i have never seen such bad acting before. are they real actors or is this just a school drama with teenagers??

Delve into depression and paranoia, thats all.

[narkthirteen · 7/10 · 5 July 2020]

The shots are good. The acting is good. The scripts ok. Nothing really happens other than witnessing our lead character, Alicias descent into full blown manic depression and hyoer paranoia.

If youre into deep dark displays of mental breakdowns, then you will enjoy. If youre after a fun film, move along. This isnt for you.

Not like advertised! 3/10

[leonblackwood · 3/10 · 17 May 2014]

Review: I really wasn't feeling this movie. It takes ages to get going and once the core of the storyline kicks in, it just turns out to be very disappointing. By the end of the movie you question what was the whole point of the project because there isn't any explanation about what the hell was going on. Basically the whole concept of a group of friends going to a remote island for a break and then strange things happen, has been done many times before, but with this movie it tries to be original by making it about a strange girl who has some serious issues and ends up spoiling the whole holiday for everyone else. Personally, I didn't think it was that good, but the acting was convincing and you do stick with the movie to find out the motive. Disappointing!

Round-Up: To be honest, I was expecting a intelligent thriller because of the casting of a Michael Cera, but his movies have gone down a strange avenue of late! With films like Crystal Fairy and a short part in This Is The End, it does make me wonder about his choices of movies. Juno Temple is playing her usual strange self as she has done in movies like Killer Joe, so her performance wasn't that surprising. As for the movie, I do feel a bit cheated by the advertising because it looked more like an horror than a mysterious drama. I also was disappointed with the ending which just didn't make any sense to me.

I recommend this movie to people who are into there teenagers in the woods type of movie about a girl who is loosing her mind. 3/10

Expecting

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 15 September 2014]

I guess with a title like this, you can be excused expecting something different. Maybe even the trailer suggest something else (haven't seen that obviously), but the movie at hand is a very weird one. It seems to go one direction and then strays away and gives us this "What the heck?" kind of movie.

There is nudity in here, which I didn't expect, but it shouldn't influence your movie watching experience in a good or bad way. It's just there ... just as the things the characters do. It's also very interesting to see how the characters (humans) are light when it comes to seeing hurt animals and how they react when another human being is hurting. There is a bad behavior sort of theme running through and it's pretty clear what the "message" is supposed to be ...

More than interesting experiment, if you let yourself experience it

I have seen bad ones but this makes top 3

[evilstalkerhorne1 · 1/10 · 16 March 2014]

If I could give this less than 1 I would! Negative numbers are great in this case if I could go there!! That is saying a lot since I saw Cannibal Hookers which was shot on cam corders (not even in hi def but old 1980's type) and Necromantic which should say it all. I would watch Necromantic like 10 times before seeing this one again! Totally waste of my eyeballs. Seriously a horrid waste of film makes me wonder who financed it?!?!? I could have put that money to better use buying toilet paper.... yeah it was that bad. NO character development, no story, no real ending, racist of non American medicine and people not from the US, animal cruelty, creepy nerd guy and wannabe euro trash. Take my advice although it is shot in actual movie quality filming that is the ONLY thing good besides the few and far between breast scenes that occur 2 short times. I have to say if I saw ANY of these actors in another movie the taste of this movie would make me not want to see the other one cause Magic Magic is SOOOOOO FRIIIGGGING BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD! I seriously have had better times sorting my socket set and cleaning my basement, doing dishes or folding laundry. You get the picture?!?!?? Save yourself and go do something else.

I wasted 2 and more hours on it..

[sahithi188 · 1/10 · 11 September 2013]

Seriously, 5.2/10, laughable, either users don't know how to rate it or just taking revenge for watching it by making more people suffer by watching it. Absolutely trash movie! my sincere advice to anyone who wants to watch it and looking for a review, just don't watch it. First of all nothing entertaining in the movie and you will be deprived of your valuable time thinking how idiotic the whole thing was. To make it short, you wont find a single scene in the movie captivating. Avoid it at all cost. Don't see the reviews written by some people, they are just taking their grudge on you believe me. So finish the ten line margin over here, m telling you again..don't waste your time on this cr*p.