MovieChat Forums > Magic Magic (2013) Discussion > My review, thoughts, & theories

My review, thoughts, & theories

posted 5 years ago by CinemaDemon989 (1286)
5 replies | jump to latest

I think Sebastian Silva is an interesting filmmaker. I also enjoyed his film, Crystal Fairy & The Magic Cactus. But in comparison to Crystal Fairy, Magic Magic is a completely different type of film. Crystal Fairy is more like a lighthearted psychedelic comedy, while Magic Magic is an ominous psychological thriller. But overall, I enjoyed both films.

What I found interesting about this film is, we never truly know if Alicia is just having a mental breakdown or if the group that she's with is intentionally driving her crazy. It's kind of left open for interpretation by the viewer.

Now, even if the group that Alicia was with weren't intentionally trying to drive her insane, that still doesn't disregard the fact that they weren't the most ideal people to be around. For example; leaving that crying puppy on the side of the road was just messed up. I could understand why Alicia would be disturbed by that. I would be upset too. Killing the bird was also uncalled for. And Michael Cera's character was quite creepy with his suggestive rude little comments. No doubt, there was something a bit off about Sarah's friends. But still, that doesn't exactly confirm that they were out to harm Alicia. And to be fair, Alicia was super nervous and dramatic.

But, the theory I have is that maybe Sarah's friends were secretly drugging Alicia. The sleeping pills could've been something more psychoactive. And if you pay close attention to the breakfast scene when Alicia drinks coffee, I think the coffee was laced with some kind of drug. Cause you don't really see anyone else drinking it. So that's my theory, is that Alicia, combined with her anxiety and possible mental illness, was being drugged, which is what ultimately led to her nervous breakdown. I could be wrong though. But that's just a theory of mine.

My questions are: what's the meaning behind the title of the film? Do you think Sarah was in on it? Or was everything just in Alicia's head? And lastly, what happened to Alicia at the end? Did she die?

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I think she died, yes. The way everyone was crying around her makes me believe it was just that.

As to Alicia being drugged... probably not.

The title... well... I remember that obscure Soviet movie called 'Magic Black&White' (1983). It's a story about two boys trying to learn some magic tricks. Those tricks are present in the movie but mostly it's about the human ability to do bad things (black magic) and good things (white magic) and to distinguish between the two.

Same here. This is just an ordinary story about a road trip, stay in a cabin, nervous breakdown and finally death. And yet everything is wrapped in some surreal atmosphere with weird puppies, strange people, imaginary voices, etc.

This was a great movie, I enjoyed it no less than 'Jauja' with Viggo Mortensen.

[–] CinemaDemon989 (1286) 5 years ago

Seriously though, watch the breakfast scene when Alicia asks for coffee. The face they make is questionable. And do you notice that Alicia's behavior gets crazier and crazier the more she takes those sleeping pills? And plus, when Alicia is given that herbal tea, I could've swore that one of them said, " You wanna put something in her tea?" And by the way, how did she die?

I still stand by my theory. Watch it again.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

My to watch list is 700+ titles so I really doubt that I'll watch it again any time soon. For me, it wasn't a kind of movie that I watch for answers or logic.

She gets crazier and crazier but what's the reason for that? That could be very well all those pills that Cera founds in her bag (most likely some antidepressants). Or the fact that she stopped using them. Or maybe the first hypnotic experience somehow triggered her off. Or the altitude. Chilean peasants living in the mountains use coca leaves as a stimulant. The tea was given to her by that native woman who treated her hand so maybe it contained some coca. Could this lead to her mental breakdown? Not likely but possible. Etc.

[–] CinemaDemon989 (1286) 5 years ago

I know it may seem like an obvious answer, to say that Alicia went crazy because she stopped taking her medication. I definitely took that into consideration. That's what I thought the first time I watched the film. And I'm not even writing that off as a possibility. I think...she stopped taking her medication, and then, to top it off, ended up being surrounded by a group of sadists who intentionally drugged her with psychoactive substances. And I think the hypnosis also had something to do with it. I think that prior to Alicia's arrival in Chile, Sarah's friends knew that Alicia had mental problems, and planned to use that against her, using hypnosis and by secretly drugging her. I don't think that Sarah and Agustin were exactly in on this plot. I mean, Agustin might've had some knowledge of it in the beginning. But I think the plot to drive Alicia crazy was mainly formulated by Brink and Barbara.

I could be wrong. But hey, it's a theory. And really, my theory can't be entirely disproved, because the film never truly clarifies anything.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I've checked my IMDB page and did find out that I've seen two of his other films. Both were good.

Gatos Viejos (2010) - 5/10
La Nana (2009) - 5/10
Magic Magic - I gave it 7/10 partly because so many morons hated it. It's a solid 6 otherwise.