Twisted Queens
SansMinds
SM Productionz
Twisted Queens is a much simpler and direct approach to the classic torn and restored card effect. You focus on the idea of ripping apart the queens to really sink into the spectators hear, and their imagination is what restores the queen, in their own hands. It's easy to do and you'll get unbelievable reactions.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
I have read some reviews that give this a lower rating because this is a simple switch. However, if you just use a little bit of creativity, this effect could be a powerful piece of your magic set.
This is a simple switch for a “twisted Queen” gimmick where the card is a Queen that has been restored in an unusual way.
In the Suggestions section, I will talk about how you can carry this card and incorporate it into a routine that is powerful and amazing.
CONS
What you get are ten misprinted Queens that are restored in a contorted way. The DVD talks about giving the card away as a souvenir. However, if you do that, you will need to re-purchase refills every ten performances. I would suggest that you don’t give out the card as a souvenir, but rather re-use the card for each performance.
VERDICT
If used in conjunction with another performance, this can really be a powerful addition to your arsenal.
Suggestions
If you carry one of these mis-restored cards with you, you can combine it with another powerful routine for a true impossibility.One of the most commonly named cards by women is the Queen of Hearts. Be prepared to present an effect based on any named card. A couple of options are the invisible deck, or perhaps even better, is “Open” by Marcus Eddie. Ask for a female participant to name any card. If she names the Queen of Hearts, you can do an invisible deck or “Open” routine and then go into this routine.
If you want to give out a souvenir without having to purchase refills every ten performances, perhaps you could hand out a copy of a hand-drawn mis-restored Queen of Hearts instead of the gimmick card.
Many performers carry a Queen of Hearts and an Ace of Spades on them specifically because these are the most commonly named cards by women and men. Instead of carrying a regular Queen of Hearts, carry this gimmick instead.
(Top ▲)
It's very likely that this review will be longer than this product's DVD. At the end of the DVD, there are several "commercials" for other Sans Minds Productions. These commercials lasted longer than the training video. So let's break it down:
- Production Quality
- Effect
- Method
- Advertisement Integrity
Production Quality
With the DVD you get 10 Bicycle Rider Back playing cards that have the twisted queen image (shown on the DVD cover) printed on the face. They're excellent quality. The DVD quality is very good, well produced, easy to navigate, but very, very short.
Effect
The effect is a torn an restored card. But at the end, the card is restored into the crazy picture shown on the DVD cover. Personally, I think it's an over-hyped and pretty weak effect. But you may like it. That's up to you based on watching the trailer. They try to "sell" it as a more psychological effect where the spectator's mind creates this funky looking card. I don't feel that it's really that kind of effect.
Method
The method is accomplished by a simple sw****. That's it. You tear up a real queen of hearts, and "give the spectator the pieces" which restore, but it's not the original picture of the queen; it's a whole new image . . . supposedly of what the queen might look like if she were to restore herself in the dark. It's quite a macabre image. This method has many problems. First, you destroy a real Queen of Hearts at every performance. Second, the spectator's may want to keep the "restored" card. They can, but you only get ten cards, so you'll quickly run out.
Also, the effect, to me doesn't come across as the card restoring itself in a weird way, but rather that the card restored itself (maybe) and become something different. It's more of a change than a restore. I think that the spectators might also feel that.
Advertisement Integrity
The ad copy is very minimal, but it is accurate. The DVD trailer on YouTube is honest, and they don't hide anything. The effect is what they claim. It's up to you to decide if that's a good effect that you'll do or not.
Final Thoughts
I feel that the DVD missed the boat on "bonus" ideas or extra handling ideas, etc. They taught one simple method, and that's it. There's nothing else on the DVD. The teaching part of the DVD is actually the shortest part of the DVD. I felt that they could have least shown some more advanced techniques that made for a more convincing sw****.
There could have other effects and presentations (besides Torn and restored) that could have been done. How 'bout something as simple as a snap change to "kill" the queen? Sure it's dark, but it would fit some styles out there and would have added value to the DVD.
You don't have to kill her . . . maybe it's a brief story about a horrible accident she was in. Or maybe go the other way. Show the card all mangled. Tear it and restore it to a normal card. Or . . . or . . . or . . . I've got about 5 more simple ideas off the top of my head. They really should have taken the time to add some more value. This should have one effect of many on a multiple effect DVD, not the single stand alone effect. Ad to that the fact that you're basically paying $30 bucks for a trick you can really only do ten times . . . it's hard to give this one super great marks.
On the other hand, this card might make for a fun Halloween effect or it might fit into your bizarre repertoire. If you've got a use for the cards (and don't mind only getting ten of them), then you'll be happy with the purchase. They're well made, and the DVD is well produced (just super super short). The bottom line is that for $30 you don't get a whole lot of bang for your buck.
All things considered . . .
Final Verdict:
2.5 Stars with a Stone Status of grubble (somewhere between a gem and rubble)
(Top ▲)
As you see in the video trailer, the performer takes the Queen of Hearts from the deck and tears it into quarters. The four pieces are placed into an assistant’s hand. They are asked to imagine the Queen restoring herself piece by piece in the dark. When they open their hand, the card is restored. However, the Queen looks misshapen and a little bizarre. The card can be given to the assistant as a souvenir.
The package comes with an instructional DVD and 10 Queens. If you wish to give the Queen away, you will need to find refills. As of this writing, refills are not available at the SansMinds website. The instructional DVD does a good job explaining the effect. The handling is within the reach of beginners. Most experienced magicians won't need much help as the handling is apparent even with the editing of the critical moment in the trailer. A second performance clip on the DVD shows the full routine.
While watching the two performances, I felt a little deceived. The first performance is much cleaner than the second due to editing of the moment. I am afraid that a beginner looking for the near miracle they saw on the trailer would be very disappointed. More experienced or jaded magicians won't be surprised. Is this editing wrong? It is hard to say as deceptive advertising has been part of the magic dealer game since the beginning of magic shops. However I believe that with video there is a finer line. A vendor needs to show the effect and entice a buyer but they need to remember that if a buyer feels ripped off, they won't be back. It may go so far as cause the buyer to abandon the craft.
I would recommend rethinking the handling of Twisted Queens unless it fits you as you will need to carry an item that many don’t carry. Another consideration is that you will also need to find a supply of Queen of Hearts as you destroy one with each performance. A conversation with a knowledgeable dealer would solve that.
If you are looking for a torn and restored card effect that isn’t difficult and has a built-in premise then Twisted Queens may fit your need.