Magic Magic
On a remote Chilean island, a sleepless vacationer is drawn into a cruel social experiment that fractures her grip on reality.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- paranoid
- claustrophobic
- late night viewing
- arthouse thriller night
What critics said
Critics broadly found Sebastián Silva’s thriller daring and atmospherically unsettling, with Juno Temple and the ensemble receiving particular credit despite an uneven overall response.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Alicia’s sleeplessness, fear, hypnotic trances, and increasingly fractured experience determine how the island’s events are perceived.
The Chilean island strands Alicia with Sara’s friends after Sara leaves, turning vacation into an inescapable pressure chamber.
Brink’s sadistic streak and the group’s games push interpersonal experimentation toward psychological and physical danger.
Ancient indigenous rites, disturbing animal behavior, and captivating hypnotic trances blur ordinary reality without providing a stable interpretation.
Films like Magic Magic, and why
The Invitation
psychological unease, isolated setting, destabilized perception, and oppressive social tension
Repulsion
subjective unraveling, interpersonal menace, and claustrophobic psychological dread
The Beach
surreal atmosphere, ambiguous reality, and escalating paranoia in an unfamiliar environment
Movie Details
- Director
- Sebastián Silva
- Release Date
- 2013-07-26
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 5.1 / 10 (226)
Cast
- Michael Cera
- Juno Temple
- Emily Browning
- Catalina Sandino Moreno
- Agustín Silva
- Luis Dubó
- Roxana Naranjo
- Lorenza Aillpan
- John Carlos Huenchuano
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Magic Magic about?
- On a remote Chilean island, a sleepless vacationer is drawn into a cruel social experiment that fractures her grip on reality.
- What is Magic Magic like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Magic Magic as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Magic Magic violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Magic Magic as moderate.
- What did critics think of Magic Magic?
- Critics broadly found Sebastián Silva’s thriller daring and atmospherically unsettling, with Juno Temple and the ensemble receiving particular credit despite an uneven overall response.
- Which films are like Magic Magic?
- Films with a similar feel include The Invitation, Repulsion, and The Beach.
- How long is Magic Magic?
- Magic Magic runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Magic Magic?
- In United States, Magic Magic is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
