Psychic investigated

15 February 2008

Edinburgh 1926, and Harry Houdini, the world's greatest escapologist, has come to perform his renowned death defying feats for adoring British audiences. The great man is also seeking a way to cheat death of its secrets, particularly the dying words of his mother, which have eluded him for 13 years. Houdini (Guy Pearce, Memento‚ L.A. Confidential) offers a staggering sum to anyone who can contact her and end his torment.

Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta-Jones, No Reservations‚ Ocean's Twelve) from the city's slums, is another kind of illusionist, colluding with her daughter Benji (Academy Award nominee for Atonement Saoirse Ronan) in a fraudulent psychic act to keep poverty at arm's length. Houdini and his irresistable $10,000 reward become a target for their quasi-occult cons.

As they reel him in, Houdini is beguiled by Mary's beauty and mystery, while his manager, Sugarman, (Timothy Spall, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events‚ Sweeney Todd) is determined to break her hold. What started as a scam evolves into a far more complicated and dangerous affair, as Houdini attempts his most perilous death defying act.

Directed by Gillian Armstrong (Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst, Oscar and Lucinda, Little Women), Death Defying Acts is an Australian/UK production.

Special State of the Arts giveaway.
State of the Arts is giving away 5 double in-season passes to Death Defying Acts screening at Dendy Cinemas. To go into the draw just send an email to Content. Mention the Death Defying Acts giveaway and include your name, address and phone number. Good luck!