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Dave Loosley: Mystique Review

One DVD, 15 gimmicked cards and $25 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect

Ahh . . . the color changing deck. It's a classic for sure. In this rendition, the entire deck except for a signed card changes. The deck also changes.

Method

This is accomplished by a gimmicked card box that you have to make along with 15 "special" cards. The cards are included, but even if they weren't, I'd be surprised if you didn't have these laying around. They're a pretty common gimmick, especially when it comes to this kind of effect. When performing this, you'll have to dedicate a deck to the effect. Also, after each performance you'll need to replace the signed card with another card for the next performance.

This version has a very visual element to the moment the change happens. However, it is a very knacky move that many of you (including me) won't be able to do. That's no problem at all. Peter Nardi and Dave Loosley teach a handful of different ways to effect the moment of change.

Assuming you use one of the less difficult methods for effecting the change, this is well within the grasp of just about any skill level. It's easy to do, and the deck does most of the work. The cannot be examined before, during or after the effect, but I'll let you decide if that's good or bad. There are many versions out there that end with a clean deck, but there are plenty that don't. It's a personal choice.

Ad Copy Integrity

Written Ad Copy

The written ad copy is 100% accurate. In fact it's very specific and very literal. For example, it claims that "The DVD also explains how to construct the colour changing card box if you want to add that kicker ending to the routine!" This is true in a very literal sense. It explains how to do it. It does not show you. Loosley just talks you through it. "Way to go literal ad copy," Jeff said ironically.

REVIEW UPDATE - 2/23/15

So . . . it turns out that you can register the product with Alakazam. Doing so gives you access to another video that has a few more handling ideas as well as the details on constructing the box. Dave Loosley shows you how to do it in this extra video. I had no idea that you could register the product. If you look in the comments below, you'll see that others knew this. So thank you to my readers who are more observant than I am. In order to register, you'll need the product code which is found on the disk itself. You can register your products here: Alakazam Registration.

Video Trailer

The effect shown in the trailer is 100% as visual as they show, if you can master a difficult move. If not, there are plenty of methods taught for that moment. Either way, that part of the ad trailer is accurate. The part that is a little bit questionable is the guy holding the card box throughout the routine. The way he is holding it would give him a clear view of the gimmicked nature of the box.

You could argue that the spectator would be too busy looking at the card trick to notice this. However, based on the fact that the guy holding the card box seemed to be the only one not impressed with the color change, I'm gonna guess that he saw it. I think that "saying" that the spectator could hold the box that way is a bit misleading.

Product Quality

The DVD is well produced and well lit. The navigation was easy to use, etc. However, I think that Peter Nardi was not mic'd or that his mic wasn't working or something. I could hear Loosley just fine, but I could barely here Nardi. I'm not sure what was going on there.

The gimmicks you get are Bicycle Rider Backs that are excellent quality. No issues there. There only real beef I had with the DVD was the fact that it didn't come with the special card box. I think that after watching the trailer and finding out that "gimmicks are included" it wouldn't be too unreasonable to expect the card box gimmick to be included. However, if you don't include the box, then teach us how to make it. They briefly explained how to make it, but did not show us anything.

The nature of the gimmicked card box lends itself well to cooking show type instructions where they could have simply shown the components of the gimmick or at least some of the steps along the way, but all of that is missing. In the DVD, Loosley said that he doesn't normally use the color changing card box kicker, so that's why they didn't include the box. If that's the case, then I'd argue that maybe it shouldn't have been in the trailer.

On the other hand, for only $25 bucks to get the 15 cards that you get, and a "walk-through" of how to make this box, it's not an unreasonable deal. Though the box instructions were very brief and barely covered, it is enough for you to do what you need to do. It just would have been nice to have some details and tips on the construction process. That said, you should still have little problem constructing it.

Final Thoughts

If you like the effect shown on the DVD, which is accurately represented, and as long as you don't mind that you're dealing with a highly gimmicked deck that cannot be examined, then you'll be happy with your purchase.

Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.