I don't like gore, but I love Herschell Gordon Lewis's movies. The music is great and the actors sound like they just came off the stage at a community theater. Montag the Magician has a delivery similar to Criswell from Plan 9.Montag's show consists of him telling his audience that they will see live gore on stage, and then asking for a volunteer. Surprisingly, the audience does not look alarmed.
When the poor woman gets on stage, Montag butchers her, pulls her guts out, and at the end of the act, shows that it was all an illusion as she doesn't have a mark on her. Later that night, the woman is found murdered by the same method that Montag used on stage.
A sports reporter, who was at the show with his news reporter girlfriend Sherry, figures out this connection. His first thought is that a maniac at Montag's shows is following the girls and killing them in the same fashion. Later he begins to suspect Montag. His girlfriend is skeptical, as are the police.
After five women are killed after being on stage with Montag, Sherry volunteers to be the next woman who Montag performs his trick on. When her boyfriend professes his concern, Sherry cluelessly asks, "What can go wrong?"
There is bad acting all over this film and some of the hairstyles are ridiculous. Perhaps my favorite moment was when two of the reporters eat at a place called Chicken Unlimited! Wow, I would totally eat there. With that name, how could you not?
There is a twist ending that I didn't see coming, and which is now cliche. But at the time I believe it was less common, so is forgivable.
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