MovieChat Forums > Magic (1978) Discussion > Is 'Fats' anyone else's nightmare?

Is 'Fats' anyone else's nightmare?

posted 16 years ago by verdi_requiem
25 replies | jump to latest

I'm old enough to have seen Magic on the big screen when it first came out. (Well, not quite LEGALLY old enough, but I looked the part.) But the commercials were enough to keep me away...and I LOVE horror movies.

That puppet scared me. Not just in a "ugh what a creepy thing, someone change the channel" way. I'm talking throwing a hand up to block the TV while hollering for someone to turn it off turn it off TURN IT OFF!!! I had many nightmares featuring that sadistic, grinning mug. I literally screamed myself awake more than once.

For many years I thought I was just you being a ditzy broad. You know: something strikes you as horrible/funny/odd, but it's not really - it's just an odd glitch in your psyche. Then I recently started reading about how "he" affected a LOT of people (and not all kids). The commercial was frequently yanked after parents complained of how much it frightened kids (or maybe they were using the kids as an excuse?) All in all, it was a widespread and pretty intense case of the creeps.

How about you folks? Anyone else remember this pre-Chucky Doll 'O Doom from kid-hood?

Love,

Miz Requiem

[–] artguylarry 16 years ago

Absolutely. I wasn't old enough to see it at the time, I was ten. I am 41 now and still have never seen the film (and never will). Even now, I tend to revert to my childhood when seeing this thing pop up. I remember even more recently while watching the 2006 Golden Globes when they featured a tribute to Anthony Hopkins. I thought that surely this film was obscure enough that it wouldn't be featured in the line up. Wrong answer. Fortunately for me, each film featured in the tribute was preceded by an on screen title. This at least gave me enough time to slam my eyes shut, cover my ears and jet out of the room. Never mind that I was in a room full of my friends. They have been making fun of me ever since.

[–] jann-6 16 years ago

I actually read the book when I was about 10 or 11. If I remember correctly, I was terrified yet fascinated by the commercial so I opted for the book because I figured it wouldn't be as scary. I think I saw the movie eventually (YEARS later), but I was just thinking about it tonight because I just saw "Pin" and was thinking about watching Magic again to compare, but I realized I don't want to revisit Magic again. That damn dummy still just scares me.

[–] lljackso1 16 years ago

I hope no one ever laughs at me when I say this, but I actually consulted a psychiatrist about my Fats phobia and wanted to try exposure therapy. One session gave me a panic attack and I stopped.

For years I thought I was a weirdo -- what person would be afraid of a doll? Unfortunately this phobia has lasted more than 30 years.

Message to artguy -- man, whenever there is a tribute to Anthony Hopkins or an interview with him on TV, a clip from Magic is always show. Just be prepared.

I've also been in contact with a noted doctor who writes about media, fright and long term trauma.

Here is a link to her paper ...

http://www.joannecantor.com/longtermfright.html

"Because I'm chaos, it is my destiny to destroy" -- Jeff Goldblum as "Mr. Frost."

[–] hoboboxerjoe 15 years ago

My mother owned many dolls, when I was growing up I lived in a fairly creepy house. I only say this because any time my friends stayed over they got really scared (even in late teens lol) because of the strange sounds, and this cabinet full of dolls, staring down into them when they try to sleep. But I ended up moving into that room, never bugged me.

However, one night, I had a night fright (The only possible explanation) and hallucinated a small girl with a really *beep* up and torn up face in a white dress grinning at me with these incredibly demonic expression. Almost nothing scares me, I'm one of those people that enjoys staying at the haunted areas, by myself. Simply to go through the psychological effects and to debunk it. But for some reason that image (which was almost a mutilated and humanized version of this prominent doll in the cabinet) really disturbed me and got to me. Every now and then in the dark I see it. Late at night I feel it, after 4 am it will subside and I know all about the witching hours and all that *beep* I don't believe in the supernatural, or god, or hell, or any of that nonsense.
However, I do believe in almost palpable surreal, and maddening fear that defies rationality.

Anyway, sorry for going off subject so much there.

[–] karawolf 10 years ago

Annabelle!

**these go to eleven **

[–] HillbillySavant 16 years ago

OH LORD YES. I thought I was the only one. That trailer--and it used to air on TV when I was about 11--would freak me out for DAYS. The movie poster STILL squicks me out. Probably always will. Evil, evil, EVIL. I can't even be rational about it. It's just very upsetting. I think what defines "scary" for me is something that knows it's horrifying, and enjoys its effect on you. Spotting a monster moving through the woods isn't nearly as bad as having it peer in your window and grin at you.

GAAAAHHHH. I have to go curl up in a corner and rock for awhile.

[–] jane_bront 16 years ago

I was nine when the previews for this movie used to air on TV. And they gave you no warning! Fats face would suddenly pop up and take up the whole screen, immediately reciting some little creepy poem. My cousin and I would cover our ears and bury our faces in the couch pillows. That was one scary puppet.

"This isn't exactly the first grave we've dug. You still think I'm a catch?" - Sam Winchester

[–] thatsarappp 16 years ago

Ok, I have a real phobia of ventriloquist dummies. So much so that I have trouble watching them on TV. BUT.... this movie did not scare me at all. Infact, Goosebumps "Night Of The Living Dummy" scared me more. I guess its a combination of his massive head and the fact that he never actually made any movements without Anthony Hopkins holding him. The movie was kinda lame actually. But I guess it shows how far horror films have come. In 1978 when it came out it was probably scary as hell.

[–] wingsndollrdraft 15 years ago

I have had nightmares about Fats since I was 5 and saw a trailer for Magic on TV. Then I saw a trailer at the movies, and every time after that I would ask my parents if they were going to show a Magic commerical before the film.

My dad tried exposure therapy once, showed me the book cover with Fats' huge ugly head on it, and I screamed and couldn't sleep alone for months after that.

Then in the mid-80s, I was like 12 and decided to confront my fear and watched Magic on VHS. Wrong move. Traumatized again.

I can watch the movie now, but I know that I will always have Fats dreams. That damn dummy is instilled in my psyche. I've kind of resigned myself to it. Funny how he has affected so many little kids of the late '70s.

There should be a support group for Fatsphobes.

[–] lljackso1 15 years ago

Magic used to come on TBS all the time when TBS was still around. After Silence of the Lambs came out Magic was being played incessantly on TBS, so one Friday night while my mom was at work I decided watch it. I still don't know how I mustered up the nerve. What a brilliant film. My trauma was gone for about a couple of days and then it came back BIG TIME. Sometimes I watch clips on You Tube to see if I can do my own exposure therapy, but I have to watch them with the sound down.

You know, a support group online isn't a bad idea.

I love Anthony Hopkins and I always vowed that if I ever met him, I would say, "Do you know how many adults who were kids in the 1970s fear that doll?"

Fats is frightening because he's so lifelike, unlike any other ventriloquist's doll because his appearance is based to resemble a real person (Hopkins) and Hopkins made him come alive through his acting.

"Because I'm chaos, it is my destiny to destroy" -- Jeff Goldblum as "Mr. Frost."

[–] DarKnightfan 15 years ago

OMG! The Night of the Living Dummy scared me too when I was like 4 or 5. I had real bad nightmares and I had to sleep with the light on for like 3 years. I also had to stack pillows up on each side of me so I couldnt be watched. In this movie the part where Corky rises Fats to face Peggy and his ears and everything is moveing made me cry.

[–] v_anzaldua 9 years ago

Oh, my God. Was I ever scared by that dummy. I remember when it came to our theater (the UA Mall Trio at the mall), it was advertised in our newspaper--and the ads were scary because they featured just the left eye of Fats's face (I don't know if that's the ad you're referring to). . .and it was blown up, printed in black and white. That made it even scarier than the TV commercials.

[–] dealbrker 15 years ago

I read the book when I was a teenager and it scared the crap out of me. I am right now watching the movie for the first time. Good thing it's Friday and I've been drinking...

[–] mavmaramis 15 years ago

Subject to Fats being people's nightmares.

Fats isn't my specific nightmare but I do think that one of the following:

The first was in the 1945 Ealing film "Dead of Night" - a sequence wherein Michael Redgrave plays a demented ventriloquist who believes his dummy is alive.

The second is a classic episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Dummy" written by Rod Serling but based on an unpublished story by Lee Polk. This time the plot device is a "switcheroo". Cliff Robertson plays Jerry Etherston convinced his dummy 'Willie' is alive. At the end Willy becomes the ventriloquist (played by George Murdock) and Etherstone the dummy.

"What's known in the parlance of the times as the old switcheroo, from boss to blockhead in a few easy lessons. And if you're given to nightclubbing on occasion, check this act. It's called Willie and Jerry, and they generally are booked into some of the clubs along the 'Grey Night Way' known as the Twilight Zone" - closing narration by Rod Serling.

[–] stewie-3 15 years ago

I was terrified of that damn puppet when I was a kid. I hated it when the commercials for it came on. Of course, as a kid I didn't grasp what was really going on. I assumed Fats was basically the same thing as another terror from my childhood - the Zuni warrior doll from Trilogy of Terror (aieeee!).

[–] icombataliens 15 years ago

I was a kid of the late 80's/early 90's, so it was Chucky that *beep* me up. I'm 23, and watched about a year ago watched about 10 minutes of Child's Play before shutting it off. Not because I was scared, but because I was afraid I WOULD be scared!

[–] dangerimmn 15 years ago

watching this on amc this morning ... i couldn't believe it, lol.
had to look it up 'cause i didn't remember anthony hopkins but i sure remembered that creepy dummy! poor anthony ... upstaged by a puppet.
did i see this at the drive in or on tv ... i can't recall but, it was years ago ... maybe on tv shortly after it was released ???
i think for me it was the creepy voice and the losing of control that got to me .. i don't remember any actual nightmares but i will admit to wanting my nightlight on and my sheets tucked in tight so the monsters under the bed couldn't get me.
anyway, thanks to all for info you've posted, brought back some memories and filled in some gaps.

remember to tuck your feet under the blanket so the zombies can't grab your toes!!

[–] RandomUsername010 15 years ago

When i was a kid my sister who is 5 years older than me was the one who would freak out. She was 13 at the time and would say, "If that commercial comes on change the channel!" I sort of couldn't comprehend what the big deal was, but I got used to make a big deal over that commercial. if it came on and my sister was in another room I'd run to her and say, "That commercial is on!"

And she'd say, "Change the channel! Change the channel!

[–] ghost1807 15 years ago

When I was younger (think maybe 5) my family and I were staying over at my aunt's house for the night. I remember peeking into the living room where they all were watching a movie and seeing a creepy dummy on the screen. I had no idea what the movie was, but that image stuck with me until a couple years ago until I finally saw Magic and found out that it was Fats. It's such a haunting dummy with the look it has. Such an innocent design, but there's just something about it that's not right. Kinda like that dummy from Goosebumps (Can't remember it's name right now...)