Trick
Although 23 year old Yamada Naoko is a "super" magician, she is continously fired and constantly hounded by her landlady for the rent being late. After being fired once again, her boss shows her an ad of a physics professor, a non-believer of all things magical, offering money to anyone who can prove to him that magic is real. Desperately needing the money, Naoko accepts the challenge, which is how she comes to meet Professor Ueda. Falling prey to her simple magic tricks, Ueda is impressed, and enlists Naoko to help him uncover the tricks behind a local cult. Their hilarious antics, along with those of police officer Yabe, leads them onto further mysteries, all with tricks needing to be solved in sort of an "X-Files" meets "Scooby-Doo"...
Insights
Plot Summary
A struggling Broadway composer, Gabriel, finds himself falling for Mark, a handsome and mysterious stranger he keeps encountering around New York City. However, Mark is a 1930s-era closeted gay actor who is actually a 70-year-old serial killer who has been on a killing spree for decades. Gabriel finds himself in a dangerous love triangle as he tries to understand Mark's true nature and escape his deadly intentions.
Critical Reception
Trick was met with mixed reviews from critics, who praised its unique premise and performances but found its execution somewhat uneven. Audiences were generally more receptive, appreciating its blend of horror and romance with a queer sensibility.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its unconventional and daring premise.
- Noted for its blend of horror, comedy, and romantic elements.
- Some critics found the tonal shifts between genres to be jarring.
Google audience: Information not available.
Fun Fact
The film's screenplay was inspired by a real-life encounter the screenwriter, Harry Erlenwein, had with a man who turned out to be a serial killer.
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