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Death Defying Acts

Play trailer Poster for Death Defying Acts PG 2008 1h 37m Drama Romance Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
42% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 26% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Upon arriving in Edinburgh, Scotland for a series of mind-boggling performances, master illusionist Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) offers an impressive cash reward to any supposed psychic who can accurately tell him his late mother's exact last words. Gorgeous swindler Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) rises to the challenge and engages Houdini in a dangerous flirtation that will blur the line between reality and paranoia -- and test the very limits of his skepticism.
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Death Defying Acts

Death Defying Acts

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Critics Consensus

Pretty but dull, with unconvincing turns from Zeta-Jones and Pearce. If you want a period magician movie, seek out The Prestige or The Illusionist instead.

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Critics Reviews

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh Metro Newspaper (UK) 08/08/2008
Any magic is instantly dispelled by the dead hand of a tirelessly pouting Zeta-Jones, whose slap boasts more layers than her talent. Go to Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 08/08/2008
2/5
It's all a touch undercooked and dull. Go to Full Review Anthony Quinn Independent (UK) 08/08/2008
2/5
It's a movie that seems to have been lavished with care and performed with gusto, yet its tale of fakery sounds its own knell: there's not a believable moment in it. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 03/07/2024
3/4
Immersed in beautifully atmospheric location photography by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, shooting in and around original Scottish architecture, the film’s presentation is stunning. Go to Full Review Kaleem Aftab The National (UAE) 05/14/2018
Every line spoken is so austere that the characters seem like they're acting in straitjackets. But it's the audience that will be most desperate to escape. Go to Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall 08/08/2008
3.5/5
It's a shame that the story itself feels like smoke and mirrors with nowhere to go, wanting to have its cake and eat it too. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Chris P @RT06285801 3d It was a pretty good movie with a good storyline made better by the casting. See more Samantha L @Samantha.Henry.Diva Jul 5 It’s more romance than anything else. I did appreciate that they kept the incidents leading to his actual death in the film. See more mark G @Mark_Alan_G. Apr 5 A Houdini film that really focuses on the uninteresting parts of his life. Seriously, dull and tedious film that shouldn't have been made. See more steve d @RT35616104 01/20/2023 Plays fast and loose with history and never comes together to form anything interesting. See more andrea c @Charst 02/25/2022 Film romantico che ha l'unico pregio di raccontare una storia originale, prendendo spunto da ciò che fu veramente, tralasciando quegli aspetti che sono noti del famoso mago. Purtroppo però in questo racconto romanzato, non c'è empatia e c'è un velo di teatralità, nemmeno troppo sottile, che separa i personaggi con i loro macroscopici difetti caratteriali, dalle emozioni e dalla vera passione. Non c'è una vera direzione, se non portare il protagonista verso la sua fine; troppi pochi fatti interessanti e nemmeno un accenno alla "magia". See more 09/05/2019 I liked it. Period. See more Read all reviews
Death Defying Acts

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Cast & Crew

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Gillian Armstrong

Director

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Mary McGarvie

Guy Pearce

Harry Houdini

Timothy Spall

Sugarman

Saoirse Ronan

Benji McGarvie

Silvia Lombardo

Usherette

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Death Defying Acts

Death Defying Acts (2007) Death Defying Acts (2007) Death Defying Acts (2007) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Upon arriving in Edinburgh, Scotland for a series of mind-boggling performances, master illusionist Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) offers an impressive cash reward to any supposed psychic who can accurately tell him his late mother's exact last words. Gorgeous swindler Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) rises to the challenge and engages Houdini in a dangerous flirtation that will blur the line between reality and paranoia -- and test the very limits of his skepticism.
Director
Gillian Armstrong
Producer
Chris Curling, Marian Macgowan
Screenwriter
Tony Grisoni, Brian Ward
Distributor
Third Rail
Production Co
Myriad Pictures, BBC Films, Australian Film Finance Corporation
Rating
PG (Smoking|Language|Some Sensuality|Thematic Material|Violent Content)
Genre
Drama, Romance, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 11, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.6K
Runtime
1h 37m