Docc Hilford
THE VAULT
$35
Suggested Retail Price $38.50
THE BLURB:
The name Docc Hilford is infamous when it comes to real
world mentalism. On this two DVD set Docc takes you into The
Vault where he reveals for the first time six of his
cherished routines on DVD. This is the act Docc uses to this
day, everything can be carried on you at all times.
The Ball & Tube:
Docc breaths life quite literally into an old classic
Styx:
A demonstration of rapid calculation, beat your spectators
even though they are using a calculator
Pendule:
A masterclass in using a pendulum and a mini showpiece that
astonishes with multiple climaxes and incredible divinations
Time Machine:
Doccs superb handling and adaption of Larry Beckers HG Wells
themed coin teleportation
Nostrum Booktest:
Any book, any page and any word with two wonderful climaxes
and plenty of audience participation
Slit:
Not for the faint hearted, this is as real as it gets. Docc
shows us just how dark he can be with this showpiece, this
will make them think you are for real
Interview:
A thorough and extensive interview with the man himself.
Every aspect and years of experience in a fun and thought
provoking interview
Disc One Running Time Approximately: 1hr 35mins
Disc Two Running Time Approximately: 1hr 50mins
MY COMMENTS:
What a terrific set of discs this is! First, for those who
may have been disappointed by Docc's L&L set of videos, this
one contains many effects that Docc has been including
recently in his lectures and that he has been using in his
actual performances the last few years (according to Docc,
that is). Needless to say, then, this is very strong stuff
and very good stuff.
The Ball & Tube (a routine from his now discontinued
booklet) is a great one-on-one routine exploring focus and
hypnotism using the old magic effect. Pendule is Docc's
take on a classic pendulum routine from Dr. Jaks and Styx is
Docc's handling of another magic prop involving numbered
sticks. Nostrum is a booktest that first appeared in the
Nostrum Necromancy booklet. Time Machine is a coin routine
based on a Larry Becker routine. And Styx, well, the blurb
pretty much says it all.
The blurb only briefly describes the six routines on the
discs. Each routine is multi-phased and packed with quite a
few principles that are explored. For instance, the first
routine also includes a haunted key presentation with the
key held at the fingertips. Docc explains each routine in
great detail, which is why there are only three routines per
disc (with an interview at the end of the second disc).
The only consideration to these discs is that Docc's
presentations for many of these routines skew towards a
somewhat bizarre slant and some may find that this is just
not to their style. Of course, create professionals can and
should change the presentation to suit their needs, although
I'm not sure that the very bloody Slit will be easy to do
this with.
Though I like them both, there's no doubt that if I had to
pick between this new DVD set and the L&L set, The Vault is
the one that I'd unquestionably select. With so much
practical material in here and with this being a much better
showcase of Docc's talents than the L&L set (again, not
saying the L&L videos are bad at all), this is an impressive
DVD set that I highly recommend.
The name Docc Hilford is infamous when it comes to real
world mentalism. On this two DVD set Docc takes you into The
Vault where he reveals for the first time six of his
cherished routines on DVD. This is the act Docc uses to this
day, everything can be carried on you at all times.
The Ball & Tube:
Docc breaths life quite literally into an old classic
Styx:
A demonstration of rapid calculation, beat your spectators
even though they are using a calculator
Pendule:
A masterclass in using a pendulum and a mini showpiece that
astonishes with multiple climaxes and incredible divinations
Time Machine:
Doccs superb handling and adaption of Larry Beckers HG Wells
themed coin teleportation
Nostrum Booktest:
Any book, any page and any word with two wonderful climaxes
and plenty of audience participation
Slit:
Not for the faint hearted, this is as real as it gets. Docc
shows us just how dark he can be with this showpiece, this
will make them think you are for real
Interview:
A thorough and extensive interview with the man himself.
Every aspect and years of experience in a fun and thought
provoking interview
Disc One Running Time Approximately: 1hr 35mins
Disc Two Running Time Approximately: 1hr 50mins
MY COMMENTS:
What a terrific set of discs this is! First, for those who
may have been disappointed by Docc's L&L set of videos, this
one contains many effects that Docc has been including
recently in his lectures and that he has been using in his
actual performances the last few years (according to Docc,
that is). Needless to say, then, this is very strong stuff
and very good stuff.
The Ball & Tube (a routine from his now discontinued
booklet) is a great one-on-one routine exploring focus and
hypnotism using the old magic effect. Pendule is Docc's
take on a classic pendulum routine from Dr. Jaks and Styx is
Docc's handling of another magic prop involving numbered
sticks. Nostrum is a booktest that first appeared in the
Nostrum Necromancy booklet. Time Machine is a coin routine
based on a Larry Becker routine. And Styx, well, the blurb
pretty much says it all.
The blurb only briefly describes the six routines on the
discs. Each routine is multi-phased and packed with quite a
few principles that are explored. For instance, the first
routine also includes a haunted key presentation with the
key held at the fingertips. Docc explains each routine in
great detail, which is why there are only three routines per
disc (with an interview at the end of the second disc).
The only consideration to these discs is that Docc's
presentations for many of these routines skew towards a
somewhat bizarre slant and some may find that this is just
not to their style. Of course, create professionals can and
should change the presentation to suit their needs, although
I'm not sure that the very bloody Slit will be easy to do
this with.
Though I like them both, there's no doubt that if I had to
pick between this new DVD set and the L&L set, The Vault is
the one that I'd unquestionably select. With so much
practical material in here and with this being a much better
showcase of Docc's talents than the L&L set (again, not
saying the L&L videos are bad at all), this is an impressive
DVD set that I highly recommend.
