Effect (per the hypemasters of Ellusionist):The performer unravels a length of thread. He then immediately, and VISIBLY, begins to SAW the thread straight into his throat! The spectators can actually see the thread deep under the performer's flesh, from ANY ANGLE!
Now for the REALLY disturbing part; the performer begins to pull the thread back through his throat! This is grotesque; the spectator can actually SEE the thread tearing through the skin!
After the thread has ripped through the skin, there is no wound, no scars, nothing to see, and nothing to find. Just a hunk of thread, a naked neck and the memory of an unspeakable weirdness.
You can also 'swallow' a finger ring, perform SAW and pull the thread out of your neck with the ring attached.
http://www.ellusionist.com/Blaine/Tricks/Saw-Sean-Fields-Ring-Neck.html?cat=174Okay, so first of all, those guys at Ellusionist just love the word "VISIBLY," always in capital letters for right effect. This is often accompanied by another of their favorite words, "SLOWLY." I'm guessing these words test well in survey groups of fourteen year old would be magicians. Nonetheless, with this effect, the hype is justified as you really do get what is promised. This is a very visual close up effect that will delight or disgust your spectators, depending on their proclivities. I wouldn't recommend it for birthday parties or trade shows, but with the right audience, this will get great reactions.
The effect is not impromptu, but requires very little preparation and resets instantly for another few performances. You will need to carry something extra around with you to get prepared, but it doesn't take much pocket space.
As the ad copy states, this effect really is angle proof. It can be performed with people all around you and under you if you'd like. If someone is REALLY close and you are very still, they might notice something slightly amiss, but even then, it is unlikely they will guess the real secret. Another big advantage to this effect is that when it's over, you are totally clean. Everything (your neck, the thread, the lifesaver) is totally examinable.
The principle behind the trick is not new, and may be familiar to those who regularly perform geek magic such as needle through arm, but Sean has put together a very convincing illusion with it and come up with some great variations. I especially like "choke" in which he apparently swallows a lifesaver and then pulls it out of his neck with the thread. If done with a ring, this would make a killer (and completely unexpected) ending to a ring on rope routine.
You won't receive any props with the DVD, but everything you need can be purchased at Wal-mart for less than $5, assuming you don't already have it. In my opinion, $20 is a fair price for what you are receiving, as long as you really do plan to perform the effect. I will assume that those of you that do know who you are.
