DVD Review: Criss Angel Mindfreak-Halloween Special

Just in time for Halloween, Criss Angel’s special from 2005 offers a couple of never-before-seen effects and "uncut" versions of others that ran during MindFreak’s first season. If you already own the first season MindFreak DVD, there’s probably not much here that will entice you to purchase this Halloween DVD.

The two new effects include a seemingly impromptu routine with the amazing Ayala that occurs in the Palace Theater of Hollywood’s Magic Castle. Here, Angel appears to interrupt Ayala’s performance and then dives through his body. Angel then re-appears amongst the audience. It’s a stunning effect.

The big illusion, the episode’s carrot that keeps you watching, is Angel’s escape from a woodchipper. Angel is shackled into a wood box that is placed onto a conveyer belt, which moves the box directly into a dangerous wood chipper. Angel’s team spared no gory special effects for this one and master magician Johnny Thompson does a great job of describing the effect and wringing every ounce of drama out of it.

Once again, Angel’s poor mother gets to watch and (mind) freak out. This lady is either a great actress or Criss Angel is doing a good job of keeping his mom happy considering all that he puts her through. For her well being, I hope it’s the former.

The show features a couple of mentalism effects that didn’t air on television because they were part of a controversial bullet catch episode that was barred from television. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see the bullet catch on this DVD.

Angel performs his version of the Hindu Needles for a live audience at the Magic Castle’s Parlour stage. Naysayers, yes, apparently Angel can perform this one live.

He also offers an “uncut” version of his disappearance from an inverted trash can. While Angel serves this as proof that he doesn’t rely on camera editing, as he is often accused by the magic community, he’s picking and choosing his effects. There are other effects that magicians would love to see performed live and “uncut.”

The special is entertaining, but those who own the first season DVD of MindFreak will have seen most of the effects. And unfortunately, the two big new effects: jumping through Ayala and escaping from the woodchipper, are available to watch on the internet. Any Criss Angel fan has probably already seen them, if they didn’t watch the show last Halloween.

If you’re a Criss Angel fan and don’t already own the first season MindFreak DVD, it’s a much better investment than this Halloween special.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto