IMDb 5.8 2007 HD

Death Defying Acts

Death Defying Acts

2007
Drama Romance
97 min PG United Kingdom
6 / 10
5.8 IMDB

On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con the famous magician.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Gillian Armstrong
Starring
Catherine Zeta-Jones / Guy Pearce / Timothy Spall / Saoirse Ronan / Malcolm Shields / Leni Harper / Ralph Riach / Olivia Darnley

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

intriguing stylish romantic dramatic predictable well-acted compelling uneven sophisticated muted engaging atmospheric

Reviews

S
Seraphina Bellweather
May 4, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

With a gaze as sharp as any illusionist's trick, 'Death Defying Acts' draws you into a world where reality and performance blur. Catherine Zeta Jones and Guy Pearce lead a strong ensemble, their dynamic crackling with an undercurrent…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 4, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

While 'Death Defying Acts' boasts a strong cast in Catherine Zeta Jones and Guy Pearce, the film ultimately struggles to fully realise its intriguing premise. The story of Houdini and a conning psychic has all the ingredients for…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 4, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that understands the allure of mystery and the power of performance. 'Death Defying Acts' cleverly uses the persona of Harry Houdini as a stage for a more intimate drama of manipulation and genuine connection.…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 4, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Death Defying Acts' presents a compelling premise: the famed escape artist Harry Houdini entangled with a psychic intent on deception. Guy Pearce embodies Houdini with a fitting intensity, while Catherine Zeta Jones brings a steely allure to her…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 4, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

A stylish period piece, 'Death Defying Acts' offers a captivating, if not entirely groundbreaking, exploration of illusion and deception. Catherine Zeta Jones and Guy Pearce share a palpable chemistry, anchoring the film with their performances as a psychic…

FAQs

The core of the film's dramatic pull lies in the intricate relationship between Harry Houdini and the psychic. Their connection is described as a passionate affair, yet it's complicated by the psychic's ulterior motive to con the magician. This dynamic creates inherent tension and intrigue, as audiences are left to wonder about the authenticity of their feelings versus the calculated nature of their actions. It's a battle of wits and hearts.