"Phantasm" by Jamie Daws
Suggested Retail USD$24.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Phantasm", an effect by Jamie Daws, is a mind-twisting, logic-torquing, piece of visual magic that moves the classic Card Warp plot into an area all its own, resulting in a solid piece of close-up weirdity.

You really have to check out the video on this one because there's just no doing it justice with words. It's a regular Card Warp that ends up with the "warping" being done as visually as you can ask for and ends with a perfect giveaway, the two cards fused in their warped state.

From the get-go, "Phantasm" had me. I love Card Warp and I adore the reactions I get with my version. When I first saw the video for this one, I was hooked. Then I read the ads and saw I could give everything away at the end? And it worked with business cards? Well, there ya go, my friends -- my ABM radar ("Always Be Marketing") kicked into full gear and I go "Phantasm" and I played with it and I was in love with it.

The basic handling is nicely done and easily managed; a small bit of practice and you'll have it down. There is an alternate handling that you may prefer (I did) which looks just plain insane. However, it is a trickier handling and that might be a turn-off. Do what I did: learn the "basic" handling, floor some people, and all the while be working on the "Flick Change", then you get that ever-popular instant gratification while also giving yourself the satisfaction that you'll soon be really frying some brain cells.

Okay, let's go over a few things you should know before going after this one:

First up, you burn a gaff every performance. This isn't all that big a deal (Card Warp traditionally destroys two cards each time anyway), but you'll need to make the extra gaffs and you'll need to carry them around. Putting them together is simple enough (it will only take a couple of minutes each), but the pocket real estate may be more of a concern.

Second up, it's almost a waste to use this with playing cards. Use this with your business cards, produce the final, near-fatal giveaway, and you've really done yourself a service.

Third and last, this is not the purest version of "Card Warp" you'll run into. If you're a purist, this ain't for you. If you don't mind bending the tradition a bit, the sneaky additions used here are thing of beauty.

All in all, "Phantasm" is a fantastic version of the classic that plays powerfully and gets huge reactions. If you're into the whole "Card Warp" plot -- and the odds say you are -- then this is one solid "must-have".

"Phantasm" by Jamie Daws
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 8
Angles are a bit of an issue -- you'll need to keep this one close to the chest -- and if you're planning on repeating this you'll need to carry a number of the gaff with you (you lose one every performance). Still, for the impact, it's probably a small price to pay.

Workmanship: n/a
There is one pre-made gimmick included; the others, which are easily made, are on you.

Documentation: 8
Daws seems a bit rushed on this, and there is a feeling that things are being glossed over, but still he does a great job of teaching his work here. Throw in the PDF templates so doing this with business cards is a breeze and you've got very comprehensive documentation here.

Effect: 10
It's a weird flavor of Card Warp that comes very close to not being a Card Warp variant at all. This is not a bad thing; "Phantasm" is just that much closer to being it's own thing. And it twists spectators' minds and doesn't let go.

Presentation: 10
Visual, striking, and you end up with an impossible souvenir as a giveaway (if you'd like)... this one has it all.



Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.