Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Dream On by Aerosmith

Review of Haunted 2.0:

Two gimmicks, a butt-load of "stuff" to make more gimmicks, 2 DVDs, a new method all for $35. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Preamble

A couple/few-ish years back, Haunted was released. I reviewed it and gave it a poor rating. There were a few very serious problems with the original. The original version has been discontinued by Paul Harris Presents. The good news is that this version is much, much better as you'll discover below.

Effect

Al Baker's Pack That Cuts Itself is a classic in magic. This is Peter Eggink's and Mark Traversoni's handling of the Baker classic. Simply put, a card is chosen, signed and placed in the middle of the deck. Slowly, the top half of the deck starts to cut (i.e., slide over) itself. As the deck continues to move, eventually, a card starts to slide out of the deck at the point where the deck is cut. This card is turned over by the spectator and revealed to be her card.

Method

The method relies on a very clever gimmick much like the original. However, they've modified it so that it works 100% better than the original. Part of the problem with the first version was that you had to modify the gimmick that you received. This modification (needed to make the old version work) is very difficult to get "just right" in order to make the gimmick work properly. This new method for Haunted 2.0 requires no modification; just a little "breaking in" which is very clearly taught on the DVD and will only take two or three minutes tops.

The Haunted 2.0 gimmick is much more reliable than its predecessor. My old gimmick broke after just a few uses. This gimmick (Haunted 2.0), however, has already been beaten up by me and tested pretty heavily, and it's still going strong.

You receive two different versions of the gimmick with Haunted 2.0. One of them is, in my opinion, far superior to the other. Upon testing them both, I found the thicker gimmick to be far more reliable. I would actually feel very good about using the thicker gimmick in a real performance. The thinner gimmick, however, I would not. Also, with the stuff supplied, you can easily create either kind of gimmick you'd prefer (thick or thin). Yes I know this whole "thick", "thin" thing is a bit vague, but I can't say too much without risking tipping the method.

The bottom line is that this gimmick is extremely well made, reliable and very easy to use. This method is totally doable. The one "issue" I did have, however, is that, at first, I couldn't quite get the selected card to pop out of the deck consistently. The pack would always cut easily, but most of the time it would stop after the cut. After a fair bit of fiddling and practicing, I was able to get the card to pop out about 90% of the time. Then, once I switched to a brand new deck, I got 100%. The nice thing about the movement is that it's a little bit different each time, so the effect looks a little different every time you do it. That makes it fun for the magician too. :)

Ad Copy Integrity

There is a mention in the ad copy of "ending up with a normal deck." That's true - the gimmick is self-contain within a single card that you can ring in and out of the deck. But for the deck to be examined, you have remove the gimmick from the deck, though it would likely slip by unnoticed by the spectator with just a casual spreading of the cards. There are a couple of methods taught for ringing it in and out. They are all very simple to employ.

The only other "honorable mention" is that on the video trailer, they mention that there are "new methods for controlling speed and animation." That's true, but keep in mind that once you set the gimmick, you have no control; you sit back and watch (or feign mental madness as you grunt and sweat to "cause the pack to move"). The control comes in how you set the gimmick just before the animation. Setting the gimmick is nearly instantaneous and goes unnoticed by the spectators. Also, I wouldn't call it "control." I'd call it "Influence." When you set the gimmick, you can do it in a manner that has some influence over the speed. However, once you set the gimmick and place the deck down on the table, it's literally and metaphorically out of your hands.

Product Quality

This is where the original took a big hit; product quality. However, Haunted 2.0 is miles ahead in product quality. As mentioned, the gimmick is very strong and well made and will serve you well. You'll need to spend some time practicing and getting to know the gimmick to get a reliable selected card animation but the animated cut is almost idiot proof, and I was able to get the selected card to pop out reliably within an hour or two of practicing and breaking in the gimmick. Put in a little time, and you'll be very happy with the gimmick. In the first version, I was not able to duplicate the effect shown on the video trailer even one time. With Haunted 2.0, however, I've been able to duplicate it many, many times. Kudos to Paul Harris Presents for recognizing that this product needed an upgrade.

Also included with Haunted 2.0 is the original DVD from the first version. The great thing about this is there are handling ideas and tips that you'll find valuable from the first one.

Final Thoughts

As a reviewer, I do my best to be fair and honest in my reviews. I also try to point out specific things in my reviews that creators can, hopefully, use to improve their future products, if they're listening to me. I don't know if Paul Harris Presents listened to me or other reviewers or just figured it out themselves, but they've made the changes needed to make this a worthwhile investment. For the price of $35, you get 2 DVDs, some good handling tips and a well made gimmick that does exactly what it claims it will do.

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

3 Comments

  • Max Dawid-Allan says:

    I am still on the fence with this one. One thing is that I do not want to use I.T or L##ps for a haunted deck, but rather something like this…. total hands off. I was thinking about getting Rasmus Haunted Deck as well as they say you receive gimmicks that last you a lifetime. In your opinion, are there any other hands off haunted deck effects that you recommend? And also how many/how often do I need refills for Haunted 2.0 ( I am planning to use this several times a day, so pretty heavy performing)

  • Max Dawid-Allan says:

    I am so sorry to post again. But do I need a card box with the back design of the actual card? Because those boxes are well out of print aren’t they? Speaking of card box, do I need to prepare a card box or just add the gimmick to my deck of cards?
    Max

    • Jeff Stone says:

      @Max- Thanks for the comments. The card box has no impact on the effect. You can use any card box. The gimmick will work in any deck because the back design is never seen. Also, I’m pretty sure that they teach you how to make the gimmick in another card if you wanted to. I’m not 100% on that, but I’m pretty sure.

      I haven’t watched the video for a long time. 🙂

      Jeffro

Your email address will not be published.

 

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.