Where do we start?

The thing which sells this (and so many Sans Minds releases) is the visual nature of the change. However, I have a few questions about that. Even on the tiny 4cm square photo on the DVD box it was easy to see there is something quite odd about the card case – you’d really need to keep it in motion to actually properly fool someone. And I’m not convinced that the change itself is fast enough on its own.

Another significant gripe is the fact that you have to make your own gimmick. The DVD box says there’s a onetime 15 minute construction needed. In fact it takes 24 minutes to demonstrate the construction on the DVD – that’s with someone that knows what they’re doing and has everything perfectly to hand (and has all the cards chopped up in an instant!). This is going to take you at least half an hour and possibly longer – and you also need to supply some extra things which aren’t included.

Over-thought?

For the spectator, the big surprise is the cards being eaten and theirs being intact. I’m not sure the little visual effect of the face changing on the way adds enough to the effect to warrant all the extra work. The premise of the original effect on which this was based involved dropping a razor blade in the card box which slashed all the cards – and I would have thought the impact on the audience was much the same.

Similarly, the ‘nice to have’ aspect of seeing the card returned into the middle of the deck (rather than just into the card box) is just that – nice to have. And they even explain a way of handing out the box at the end which is barely necessary.

On the plus side

The DVD is well shot and easy to follow. Explanation is clear (almost painfully on occasion) and in addition to the detailed explanation of the routine includes a much faster walkthrough from the spectator’s perspective which is helpful.

Teaching runs to just under an hour and includes a tips section with ideas for the care and storage of your gimmicks and thoughts about angles and variations. It also credits Credits Devon Monteir’s Cannibal trick (1973) on which many modern variations are based.

Once you’ve gone to the trouble of making it all up, the trick is pretty easy to perform, as long as you are fairly confident. Confidence is required more than skilful handling. As I was watching Devour it reminded me of a somewhat souped up version of Blaze/Dreamweaver (which you can find on the excellent Chardistry DVD). If you’re looking for a version that requires less DIY then I’d opt for that DVD and get a load of different effects too.

If the visual element of Devour does it for you, and your craft skills are good, then what area you waiting for? Head over to the Merchant of Magic to pick up your copy now. (£24.99 at the time of writing)

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Sans Minds – Devour – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

Let’s start with the effects

Loc-Ace-tion
The four aces appear, are lost in the pack, and then are found again instantly. Fairly easy to do – though the initial flash production is a bit knacky.

Banter
This is a really fun opening routine using cards which contain jokes and punchlines. The packets of cards are mixed and yet you repeatedly manage to ‘match’ the jokes. A light-hearted and engaging little routine which is pretty easy to do. I like this a lot.

Chard Under Box
OK, so if you didn’t get the very subtle reference (!), this is Daniel’s handling of ‘Card Under the Box’ – where a chosen card is repeatedly found underneath a card box, no matter how hard the spectator watches. In a fun conclusion, the deck appears under the box instead of the card. This is a really nicely thought out routine, but will require a little more confidence in card-handling (including palming) and boldness in performance. An entertaining routine.

Homage to Pepe
After a ‘that four Ace production’ the magician then magically locates in order all the cards of one suit. In a kicker finish, they all change to the series in a different suit. There’s a lot of magic going on here, but for me the presentation was a bit dull – here’s a card, here’s another flourish and then along comes another. I think I prefer my magic a bit snappier, but an impressive looking routine.

Blaze
This is a nice revelation using fire! First of all, the pack of cards appears in a flash of fire, and then the spectators chosen card is located when a ‘flash fuse’ is attached to the deck and all the cards are burnt and shredded but the most intact one is their chosen card. A nice visual and straightforward routine, which is very easy to do. The method is largely the same as Dreamweaver, but with a different presentation.

Progressive Revelation
This is a ‘collectors’ type effect where the Aces (which ‘appear’ visually) locate two cards which ‘indicate’ the value of a spectator’s chosen card. And then merge together to make the card itself. With a few flourishes on the way. It felt a bit like magician’s magic in terms of the complexity of the plot – and I wondered if it might be slightly confusing to follow for a layperson? (see below for some more thoughts on this)

Sequential Extension
A sequential multiple selection effect – where the ace to five of a single suit are lost in the deck and then found in a series of baffling revelations. Like the previous effect, there’s a lot of magic going on in a relatively compact routine.

Prophecy Transpo
After a short ‘ambitious’ sequence with the Ace of Spades, two cards a selected. The Ace of Spades then locates them from the midst of the deck and there is an extra surprise as the located cards swap places.

Kickback Collectors
This is Daniel’s take on the collectors plot – where four aces which have been set on the table from the start, instantly locate three selections which have been lost in the deck. In an interesting second phase, the three selections then instantly locate the Aces again.

Dreamweaver – the pips fall off a deck of cards leaving all the cards blank apart from the spectator’s signed selection. Nice unusual plot and all but self-working – once you’ve done a bit of work to set up for the first time.

In conclusion

So with Chardistry you get a lot of effects/magic for your money. The DVD has been simply, but clearly shot with a sort of ‘no frills’ approach which is also reflected in Daniel’s presentations. His explanations are concise and go at some pace – I think he assumes you will have a reasonable knowledge of the basic sleights already – but he also gives plenty of references for further information.  He also scores a point for attributing sources very well!

Daniel himself comes across as a down-to-earth and humble guy with an understated performance style. Unfortunately, the performance segments didn’t really help me to get into the routines – his spectators seem only mildly interested and reactions are more on the puzzled/surprised side than amazement.

Psychologically, that made it harder for me to fall in love with the routines – the DVD may have benefited for some more ‘live’ performance in the real world which would almost certainly have been stronger. I also ended up watching the DVD In multiple sittings which probably didn’t help.

There are some great routines here – covering all skill levels from all but self-working to rather more involved ‘finger-flinging’. I like my magic straightforward and direct, so actually found the simpler routines more appealing, but with a bit of presentation I’m sure that many of the routines could be effective in the real world.

Chardistry is available from the Merchant of Magic for £27.99 (at the time of writing)

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

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