Movie spotlight
Trick for Trick
Six months after the unsolved murder of a young woman who had been his assistant magician Azrah arranges a seance that will be attended by his former partner La Tour, as well by detectives and interested parties who may also be suspects. The seance is abruptly ended when la Tour is murdered and general confusion and much activity inside and outside Azrah’s stone fortress, a veritable castle of magic, ensues until everything is sorted out and the culprit is revealed.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young man inherits a peculiar mansion filled with automatons and haunted by the spirit of his deceased uncle. He soon finds himself entangled in a series of strange events and murders orchestrated by the mechanical figures and a mysterious woman.
Critical Reception
Reviews for "Trick for Trick" were mixed upon its release. While some critics appreciated its attempts at creating a suspenseful atmosphere and its unique premise involving automatons, others found the plot to be convoluted and the scares less effective than intended. It is often considered a lesser-known but interesting entry in early horror-mystery films.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its inventive concept with mechanical characters.
Criticized for a confusing plot and a lack of genuine frights.
Seen as an atmospheric, albeit flawed, early horror-mystery.
Google audience: Audience reception data is not readily available for this older film. However, based on its niche genre and historical context, it likely appealed to fans of early suspense and B-movies, while potentially alienating broader audiences.
Fun Fact
The film's director, H. Bruce Humberstone, would later go on to direct more successful films for 20th Century Fox, including several Shirley Temple musicals.
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